My academic pursuits are unified by the theme of empowering product designers through research on both design methods and design education. Having studied industrial design (which emphasizes synthesis, ergonomics, and aesthetics) and mechanical engineering (which provides a scientific basis for ideas), my work is governed by an interest in designing products. Historically the computer-aided design community has focused on the computation and manipulation of geometry and mechanisms, while design practice and synthesis have tended to emphasize intuitive and experiential methods. My efforts link first-hand design experience with computation to build new tools for product design practice. My studies of the interface between industrial and engineering design, and the confluence of products and the environment has led to the conclusion that a practical, yet rigorous, integrated system design approach is a pressing need. Thus, the focus of my research is large-scale systems-oriented product modeling that accommodates the physics, heterogeneity, exceptions, uncertainties, context-dependencies, and rapid change associated with real problems.

Education
B. Industrial Design, 1986, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
B. Mechanical Engineering, 1989, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
M.S. Mech. Engineering Design, 1991, MIT
Ph.D. Mech. Engineering Design, 1994, MIT
 
Honors and Awards
Honorary Advisory Professor, LG Electronics, 2000
Keenan Award for Innovation in Undergraduate Education, 2000
ASME International Design Engineering Division, Design for Manufacturing Committee IBM Best Paper Award for "Integrating Environmental Impact Assessment into Product Design", 1998
Esther and Harold E. Edgerton Chair, 1996
PEEER Klegerman Award for Environmental Excellence in teaching design course 2.744, 1995
Karl Chang Fellowship, MIT New Products Program, 1992
Carl G. Sontheimer Prize, MIT, 1991
National Science and Engineering Research Council 1967 Scholar, 1989
Chancellor's Medal, Carleton University, 1989
University Medal in Industrial Design, Carleton University, 1986
 
Personal Interests
Gardening; woodworking; pottery; figure skating
 
Publications
Please see cadlab.mit.edu/publications

 
Research Interests
Environmentally-conscious product design cadlab.mit.edu/major-initiatives/ecd
Integrated computer-aided design cadlab.mit.edu/major-initiatives/DOME
Industrial design and aesthetics cadlab.mit.edu/major-initiatives/CAID
Product design and new media education cadlab.mit.edu/major-initiatives/design_ed

 
Teaching Interests
Product design me.mit.edu/2.009
Industrial design me.mit.edu/2.744
Environmentally-conscious design, visual communication