The generative design research approach brings people served by design directly into the design process. First book on groundbreaking topic.
Liz Sanders: Liz Sanders is the founder of MakeTools www.maketools.com, a company that explores new spaces in the emerging design landscapes. She is a visionary in pre-design research, having introduced many of the tools, techniques and methods being used today to drive and/or inspire design from a human-centered perspective. Liz has practiced co-designing across all the design disciplines. Her current focus is on bringing participatory, human-centered design thinking and co-creation practices to the challenges we face for the future. Liz speaks about and offers learning experiences in human-centered design research and innovation for clients, colleagues and students around the world. She has a Ph.D. in Experimental and Quantitative Psychology and a B.A. in both Psychology and in Anthropology.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Founder, MakeTools (January 2005 to present)
MakeTools uses generative tools to explore collective creativity.
President, SonicRim (1999 to 2005)
SonicRim is a consulting firm that offers design research services to companies who want to stay in
tune with and respond to the emerging needs of their customers.
Vice President, Fitch Inc. (1982 to 1999)
Fitch Inc. is an interdisciplinary design consulting firm serving clients in many industries.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
The Ohio State University (OSU) (1992 to present)
and#149; Senior Lecturer, Department of Industrial, Interior, and Visual Communication Design
and#149; Adjunct Faculty Member, Industrial and Systems Engineering
and#149; Advise many Masters and Ph.D. students from OSU (and other universities)
and#149; Regularly teach these required courses:
and#150; Industrial Design 555: Design Research for undergraduate students
and#150; Industrial Design 786: Design Research for graduate students
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
Member of the Board of Advisors for the School of Design since 1999
University of Dundee, Scotland
Honorary Professorship in the School of Design, Faculty of Duncan of Jordanstone College
RELATED ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
and#149; Associate Editor for CoDesign: Collaboration in Design
and#149; Have conducted workshops and made presentations to students and faculty in many different universities including:
and#150; Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA (visit there once a year)
and#150; Stanford University in Stanford, CA
and#150; University of Art and Design in Helsinki, Finland
and#150; Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
and#150; Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
and#150; University of Washington in Seattle, WA
and#150; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY
and#150; University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta
and#150; North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
and#150; Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Georgia
and#150; Universidad de las Americas in Peubla, Mexico
and#150; University of Dundee, Scotland
and#149; Have a working relationship with researchers at:
and#150; Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
and#150; The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
and#150; University of Art and Design in Helsinki, Finland
and#150; University of Dundee in Dundee, Scotland
and#149; Review committee for CHI (Computer Human Interaction) Conferences
and#149; Review committee for HFES (Human Factors and Ergonomics) Conferences
and#149; Review committee for the Conference on Designing Pleasurable Products and Interfaces, 2003
and#149; Scientific committee member for Wonderground, the 2006 Design Research Society International Conference in Lisbon 2006
and#149; Review committee for The Emotional Wardrobe International Conference in Bristol, UK 2006
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
and#149; The World Future Society
and#149; The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES)
and#149; The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA)
and#149; The Design Management Institute (DMI)
and#149; The Product Development and Management Association (PDMA)
and#149; Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
and#149; The International Dyslexia Association
and#149; The Design and Emotion Society
and#149; The Center for Ethnography and Documentary Research (Board Member)