VX Framework
About

The team behind the framework

VX was developed through collaboration across democracy research, human-centered design, and civic technology.

The framework originated at the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at the Harvard Ash Center, growing out of "The Voter Experience," co-authored by Hillary Lehr and Bruce Schneier, and a cross-disciplinary summit held at Harvard in March 2026. Read more in the summit recap.

Emily Fishbaine, Hillary Lehr, and Anyi Sun standing together in front of an Ash Center backdrop at the Harvard Ash Center.
Emily Fishbaine, Hillary Lehr, and Anyi Sun at the Harvard Ash Center VX Summit, March 2026.

Hillary Lehr

Policy Fellow, Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation, Harvard Ash Center; Managing Director, Higher Ground Labs

Fifteen years in political technology. CEO and co-founder of Quiller, an AI copilot for campaigns. She ran the Higher Ground Labs accelerator and deployed tech bug bounty programs in the 2020 and 2024 election cycles.

Anyi Sun

Managing Director, Koi Studios

UX leader and co-founder of Koi Studios, a design firm founded in 2023. Over ten years in human-centered design, leading work for Ticketmaster, Deloitte, Foursquare, and MLB. Adjunct Professor at New York University and a speaker at global design conferences including UXPA and ADPList BeMore Festival.

Emily Fishbaine

Lead Service Designer, Globant; Adjunct Professor of Service Design, NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Ten years of research, facilitation, and mapping experience across medtech, nonprofit, banking, education, and automotive. She brings a human-centered design lens to the public sector and civic technology.

Thanks to Professor Bruce Schneier, co-author of the original Voter Experience piece, and to the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation for institutional support.