My design work varies from the poetic to the pragmatic. With self-initiated projects, I tend to design for the domestic sphere, at the scale of the individual, and often without a lot of technology. My academic projects involve greater ethnographic research and participatory methods and tend toward systems-, service-, and strategic-design. The images below represents the "making" aspect of my design practice, often in collaboration with Stephanie M. Tharp and our studio, materious.
In 2005, I left a "dream job" with an in-house industry think-tank to begin an academic career in Chicago. Since then, I have taught (at three institutions) 38 different product design studio and seminar courses split across undergraduate and graduate curricula. Focus has been on interdisciplinary collaboration, discursive design, design research, and entrepreneurship.
2005–2010
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR (tenured)
Chicago, Illinois
Highlights
Co-developed the Master of Design in Designed Objects graduate program
Created Industry Partners Studio program for corporate & institutional project collaboration
Co-developed the Milan Design Week exhibition studio
Established the Four-Field model for under-graduate and graduate studios
Teaching Overview
26 Total courses taught
09 Different courses taught
08 New developed/co-developed
01 New initiated course
10 Undergrad courses taught
16 Graduate courses taught
04 Different undergrad courses
05 Different grad courses
70+ MFA advisees from Architecture, Interior Architecture, Designed Objects, and Fine Arts
Different Courses Taught
DESOB 2020
Core Design Studio 1_Design for Play
DESOB 2020
Core Design Studio 1_ Specs/Props
DESOB 2031
Studio Lab_Prototyping
DESOB 4030
Industry Projects_Danese Milano
DESOB 4030
Industry Projects_Haworth
DESOB 4050
Advanced Projects_Salone di Mobile
AIADO 5003
Context of User + Performance
DESOB 5110
Graduate Studio 1_Evident Objects
AIADO 5010
Grad AIADO Seminar_Design Research
DESOB 5120
Graduate Studio 2_Apt Objects
Highlights
Director of Graduate Studies, School of Design
Revamped industrial design graduate program as Director of Graduate Studies, Industrial Design
Established novel 2-semester Entrepreneurial Product Development senior capstone track, focusing on venturing and licensing
Co-taught Integrative Product Development course with Business and Engineering faculty
Teaching Overview
16 Total courses taught
10 Different courses taught
02 New, Initiated courses taught
05 New, developed courses taught
06 Undergraduate courses taught
10 Graduate courses taught
06 Different graduate courses taught
04 Different undergrad courses taught
Different Courses Taught
AD 220
Industrial Design II
DES 400
Independent Study
AD 420
Interdisciplinary Product Development I
AD 421
Interdisciplinary Product Development II
AD 423
Industrial Design Thesis
DES 471
Industrial Design Thesis II
AD 424
Independent Study
DES 430
Entrepreneurial Product Development I
DES 431
Entrepreneurial Product Development II
AD 520/521
Advanced Industrial Design and Critique
Highlights...
Central in launching innovative, team-based Master of Design in Integrative Design program
Leader for second MDes cohort partnering with UM medical, corporate (eg, IBM Watson, Steelcase, Guardian Industries), and global non-profit (LifeBox) institutions.
Co-planned and led Design++, a new 3-day faculty enrichment experience—an interdisciplinary design salon bringing together a dozen experts to investigate a trio of topics.
Teaching Overview
29 Total courses taught
19 Different courses taught
06 New, Initiated courses taught
01 New, developed course taught
20 Undergraduate courses taught
09 Graduate courses taught
09 Different graduate courses taught
10 Different undergrad courses taught
10 Semesters MDes advisement
04 Semesters grad independent study
03 Semesters MFA advisement
04 Semesters MDP advisement
03 Semesters undergrad independent study
01 PhD Committee
Different Courses Taught
ARTDES 120
Foundation Studio: 3D
ARTDES 130
Foundation Studio: Methods of Inquiry
ARTDES 241
Introduction to Product Design
ARTDES 300
Furniture/Accessories for New Behaviors
ARTDES 300
Beautiful Objects
ARTDES 342
Discursive Design Studio
ARTDES 342
Good Goods: Responsible design
ARTDES 398
Discursive Design Seminar
ARTDES 498
Integrative Project (IP) Studio 1
ARTDES 499
Integrative Project (IP) Studio 2
ARTDES 650
MDes Research Methods
ARTDES 651
MDes Design Seminar 1: Integration
ARTDES 660
MDes Design Studio 1: Inquiry
ARTDES 661
MDes Design Studio 2: Prototyping
ARTDES 665
MDes Summer Fieldwork
ARTDES 751
MDes Design Studio 3: Co-Creation
ARTDES 760
MDes Professional Development Seminar
ARTDES 783
MDes Thesis Studio 4
ENTR 599
Behind the Design Curtain