Julka Almquist’s work has been largely focused on cultural and civic institutions exploring how design and thoughtful visions of the future, can empower individuals and communities. She is a co-author of the Design Thinking for Libraries toolkit, which was created as part of a long-term engagement focused on innovation in global public libraries. She has worked as a design researcher at IDEO, and previously taught design students at Art Center College of Design and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She holds an interdisciplinary Ph.D. at the intersection of anthropology and design from the University of California, Irvine.