Background
Before joining the Cleveland Institute of Art design faculty in 1998, I worked with Thomson Consumer Electronics, RCA, GE and design consultancies in California and Ohio. Since 2008, I have pursued an interest in Biomimicry, with educator workshops, and completing the Certified Biomimicry Professional program with B3.8, followed by an MS - Biomimicry at Arizona State University. This interest led to a design/biology collaboration with the University of Akron, and becoming an instructor for B3.8 in the Biomimicry Specialist program.
The Interplay of Design and Biology:
Working as both a practicing industrial designer and professor has led me to the examination of problem solving, together with the relationship of humans to the global biosphere. Biomimicry offers a lens in which to view the world, helping to understand the broad scope of how people, the built environment and natural ecosystems are all interconnected. This interplay of design with biology and biological systems has changed my overall design methodology.
Passion/Lifelong learning:
I have always had interests in the arts and design along with science and nature, but for many years these were more separated than interwoven. My passion for kayaking and spending time in nature was a recreational activity; a break from work as a designer. I came to realize that simply spending time in nature, and "re-connecting" with nature were two very different things.
My pursuits now bring these interests together to help understand and explore both complex problems and everyday product design challenges. Current research includes: Hedgemon LLC (co-founder), focused on sports, concussion safety; developing hedgehog inspired impact protection technology and regenerative urban river ecosystems; developing urban river management systems to improve water quality and ecosystem health.
