Innovation expert to lead industrial design program at The Design School

Renowned product innovator Luis Angarita has been selected as head of the industrial design program in The Design School at Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.

Angarita brings a strong international perspective to the industrial design curriculumIndustrial design students are prepared for a career in product design, specializing in the development of manufactured objects used by people on a daily basis. The Design School offers accredited bachelor's and master's programs in industrial design.. His roles as designer, educator and entrepreneur have allowed him to learn and share his knowledge across the U.S., Canada, Latin America and Asia.

The knowledge, learning and academic enterprises promoted by ASU attracted Angarita to the position. He plans to capitalize on the university’s culture of innovation to prepare a new generation of industrial designers.

"I’m honored to lead the program, modernize the curriculum and contribute to re-imagining the future of industrial design at the most innovative university in the country,” Angarita said. “We will be inclusive, proactive, collaborative and passionate. We will be dreamers, cool hunters, innovators and unicorns. We will go beyond design thinking — keeping our feet on the ground while working with our heads in the clouds!"

Rethinking design education is important to Angarita. He has taught in the design for health master’s program at Ontario College of Art & Design University in Toronto, chaired and rethought the graduate program in strategic design for the Pontifical Bolivarian University, developed the strategic innovation course for the National University in Colombia, and redesigned and taught the design management course for the Toronto Metropolitan University.

“Luis brings a wealth of international experience to The Design School. He will make an immediate impact by leading faculty and teaching our students through a lens of empathy,” said Paola Sanguinetti, director of The Design School. “I’m excited for Luis to join us. His background will prepare our students to improve communities by viewing design through a global perspective.”

Angarita is the recipient of the Red Dot Design and the Arts-Business Personality of Montreal awards and is the co-founder of CD&I Associates, a Toronto-based innovation boutique established in Bogotá in 1995. He holds a master’s degree in environmental design from Université du Québec à Montréal, a master’s degree in design from Domus Academy and a bachelor’s degree in industrial design from the Pontifical Xavierian University.