Speakers Scroll – Page 3

Steve Vassallo

April 25, 2018October 31, 2018
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The Past, Present, and Future of Design

Steve Vassallo

General Partner at Foundation Capital,

Author of “The Way to Design”

Steve holds an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (MSME 1986) from Stanford University and an MBA from the Stanford GSB.

WED. April 25, 2018 @ 5:30pm

Building 550, the Atrium

You ignore design at your peril. That’s what Steve Vassallo, general partner at Foundation Capital, believes. He’ll explain how, in recent years, the very concept of design has evolved and why it’s become indispensable to modern businesses. Drawing from his years as an IDEO product designer, entrepreneur, and startup investor, Vassallo also shares advice on how to go from a designer to a designer founder and how to build design-led organizations. For those who want to use the power of design to create positive change, Vassallo lights the way.

Speakers

Amos Winter

November 7, 2017October 31, 2018
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Amos Winter, MIT
Liu Lecture, 11/7/2017, 4:30 – 5:30 Building 550 Atrium
Engineering Global Development: Using Emerging Markets’ Constraints to Drive the Innovation of High-Performance, Low-Cost, Global Technologies

Bio: Amos Winter is the Ratan N. Tata Career Development Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. His research focuses on machine and product design for developing and emerging markets. Prof. Winter earned a BS from Tufts University (2003) and an MS (2005) and PhD (2011) from MIT, all in mechanical engineering. He received the 2010 Tufts University Young Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award, the 2012 ASME/Pi Tau Sigma Gold Medal, was named one of the MIT Technology Review’s 35 Innovators Under 35 (TR35) for 2013, and received the MIT Edgerton Faculty Achievement Award and an NSF CAREER award in 2017. Prof. Winter is also the principal inventor of the Leveraged Freedom Chair (LFC) developing world wheelchair, which was a winner of a 2010 R&D 100 award, was named one of the Wall Street Journal’s top innovations in 2011, received a Patents for Humanity award from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2015, and was the subject of “Engineering Reverse Innovations”, winner of the 2015 McKinsey Award for the best article of the year in Harvard Business Review.

Abstract: This presentation will demonstrate how the Global Engineering and Research (GEAR) Lab at MIT characterizes the unique technical and socioeconomic constraints of emerging markets, then uses these insights with engineering science and product design to create high-performance, low-cost, globally-relevant technologies. The talk will focus on three areas of GEAR Lab’s research: high-performance, low-cost prosthetic feet; low-pressure, low-power drip irrigation, and solar-powered desalination. We have created a novel method of connecting the mechanical design of a foot to its biomechanical performance, which allows the stiffness and geometry to be optimized to induce able-bodied walking kinematics and kinetics. This theory has resulted in a single-part foot architecture that can be made of nylon to hit a $10 price point for developing countries, and which will be ruggedized and customizable for the US military/veteran population. By characterizing the coupled fluid/solid mechanics within drip irrigation emitters, we have designed new drippers that operate at 1/7^th the pressure of existing products. This technology can cut the overall pressure, pumping power, and energy usage of drip irrigation systems by approximately 50%, and lower the capital cost of off-grid systems by up to 40%. GEAR Lab elucidated a disruptive market opportunity in arid countries for photovoltaic-powered electrodialysis (PV-ED) desalination, which requires half the energy and reduces water wastage from 60% to <10% compared to reverse osmosis. These market insights have led to new ED architectures which substantially reduce capital cost, as well as co-optimized PV and ED systems that are 40% less expensive than current technology. The three projects that will be presented demonstrate how rigorous engineering theory combined with insights on emerging market constraints can yield high-value solutions relevant to poor and rich countries alike.

Speakers

Tobin Fisher, Founder and CEO of Vantage Robotics

April 20, 2017May 23, 2017
by admin

Tobin is a kiteboarder and climber, in addition to being a Stanford trained engineer. He wanted to see flying cameras reach the same ease of use and polish as the products he helped create at IDEO. After being cut badly by an innocuous plastic bladed quadrotor, he also realized the massive safety risk from flying cameras. His real world experience adventuring and designing products are the basis for many of Vantage Robotics’ design innovations.

On April 20th, 2017, Tobin joined us at Stanford for a talk on not only about his robots, but his experiences as an entrepreneur after graduating from the Stanford Design Program.

TobinFisherPoster V1

Speakers

Carl Bass

April 16, 2015March 9, 2017
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Carl Bass is a former president and chief executive officer of Autodesk, Inc., a maker of professional 3D design software and consumer applications, and was a co-founder of Ithaca Software, which commercialized HOOPS, a 3D graphics system. Bass has been credited with expanding Autodesk beyond its core AutoCAD software through acquisitions and new product developments and transitioning from 2D to 3D model-based design.

Video not available.

April 16, 2015.

Speakers

Susan Szenasy

October 6, 2014March 9, 2017
by admin

A Conversation with Susan Szenasy.

This is a series of national conversations exploring issues of design advocacy and ethics while celebrating Szenasy, Design Advocate a new title published by Metropolis Books.

Whenever there has been some new ground that is covered in design Susan and Metropolis have frequently led the way in their reporting. Back in 2002, when design was starting to be embraced in every aspect of healthcare –from devices to the design of the emergency room–Susan chose to do a cover story on the topic. In addition, Susan has always had a great love for students and being a true champion for the student voice in design.

Video not available.

October 6, 2014.

Speakers

Nemo Gould

February 28, 2013March 9, 2017
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Artist Nemo Gould (A.K.A. “nemomatic”) is a compulsive collector of things, and builder of all sorts. All of his work is made from found materials which he gathers from around his Oakland, CA studio.

These Assemblage works can be described as “Kinetic Sculpture” or “Automata”. These terms refer to art which incorporates motion, light, sound, and interactivity with the viewer. Recurring themes of robots, creatures, and vehicles reveal the artist’s love of science fiction, mechanical design, and the generally bizarre.

Find more on nemogould.com.

February 28, 2013.

Speakers

Philip Delamore

April 12, 2012March 9, 2017
by admin

We just found out that Philip will be on campus next week and have partnered with the Stanford Center for Image Systems Engineering to set up a talk! Philip brings 20 years of experience in the fashion industry to his specialist field of research, which is in the convergence of fashion design and technology, regularly collaborating with international experts in the fields of human, material and computer sciences to develop new approaches to design thinking and practice. He has worked with 3D printing for a decade in the field of fashion and mass customization. He has recently exhibited work in Milan, London, Hong Kong and Stockholm and is a regular commentator and author, most recently published in “High Heels: Fashion, Femininity & Seduction” pub. Thames & Hudson, on the creative use of 3D Printing in fashion footwear.

This talk describes the uptake of 3D Rapid Prototyping technology into the fashion industries and presents case studies in fashion and sports footwear using components which have been laser sintered in Titanium and Polyamide. Increasing uptake of digital manufacturing into industry, combined with improved build speed, finish and size has allowed for greater flexibility in production of low volume, customized and bespoke products. The presentation also describes the innovation potential for these technologies to cross domains, and suggests that their creative exploration by designers may be the key to developing new market opportunities.

No video available.

April 16, 2012.

Speakers

Pete Nelson

April 6, 2012March 9, 2017
by admin

Pete Nelson is the co-founder of The Treehouse Workshop in Seattle, Washington. Pete designed his first treehouse while in high school and though it was never built, the foundations were laid for his future work.

Pete established The Treehouse Workshop in 1997 and has designed and built treehouses all over the United States as well as in Japan, Spain, and Morocco. His creations range from small structures that serve as play spaces for kids to full-scale homes and educational facilities. Each treehouse is a unique structure that must fit the living trees that support it and leave room for them to move and grow.

Pete is also an active educator and evangelist for treehouses. The Treehouse Workshop provides specialty hardware and offers courses in treehouse design and construction. In addition, Pete has written five books on treehouses, treehouse construction, and treehouse living.

More information on Pete and The Treehouse Workshop at treehouseworkshop.com.

April 6, 2012.

Speakers

Michael Sturtz

February 9, 2012March 9, 2017
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Michael Sturtz is a sculptor, fabricator, educator, fire ballet director, and the designer (and rider) of the world’s fastest biodiesel motorcycle.
Michael defies labels and conventions with a body of creative work that is wide-ranging and continually evolving. In directing and producing over a half dozen fire ballets and operas, he has brought the excitement and power of the industrial arts from the studio onto the stage. He plays with similar juxtapositions in his design and sculptural work, bringing together the biological and the mechanical in a delicate, yet dynamic dance.

Michael lead a team named the Diesel Dozen, which designed and build the world’s first biodiesel land speed motorcycle. Michael rode the bike to a 100% bio-fueled land speed record of over 130mph. In addition to his professional and artistic successes, Michael is a passionate educator. As founder and former Executive Director of The Crucible in Oakland, CA. During his 12 years there, he created a unique educational setting which serves over 8000 students annually and offers classes in subjects ranging from welding and blacksmithing to ceramics and glass.

More information on his work can be found at michaelsturtz.com.

February 9, 2012

Speakers

Jane Fulton-Suri

January 27, 2011March 9, 2017
by admin

As a Partner and Creative Director at IDEO, Jane plays a global leadership role, evolving content and craft, human insight, and design thinking in support of client projects worldwide. She came to design from psychology and architecture with the ambition to integrate social science-based perspectives into design practice — and to foster a collaborative community of kindred spirits.

Jane is the author of Thoughtless Acts: Observations on Intuitive Design (Chronicle Books, 2005), a book of snapshots that depict the subtle and amusing ways in which people interact with the world. Jane believes that design, like life, is about seeking creative harmonies with elements of our world.

January 27, 2011