GDTA Spotlight with University College Cork
The GDTA Spotlight session on March 23rd, 2023 was about “Art thinking and design thinking in University College Cork: An innovation ‘marriage’ made in heaven.”
On September 12th, 2023 we welcomed our speakers Jessica Menold, Associate Professor in the School of Engineering Design and Innovation and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and also Dr. Matt Parkinson, Professor of Engineering Design and Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University.
In light of the upcoming GDTA conference, hosted by the Learning Factory at Penn State in the U.S., Jessica and Matt will talk about the conference theme “Scaling the Design Thinking Mindset: Upskilling the current and future workforce”. They shared some background on the topic and what participants can expect at the conference.
Dr. Matt Parkinson is a Professor of Engineering Design and Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University. His research efforts in the OPEN Design Lab focus on the design of artifacts, tasks, and environments which are robust to human variability (e.g., anthropometry, capability, and preference). His work is reflected in design standards adopted by ISO, BIFMA, and HFES. He is a Penn State Teaching Fellow and has received numerous teaching and research awards. Matt serves as the Director of The Learning Factory, which provides materials, equipment, and training in design thinking and making to more than 3,000 students annually.
Jessica Menold is an Associate Professor in the School of Engineering Design and Innovation and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. She is the Director of the Center for Immersive Experiences and is focused on leveraging immersive technologies to enable fundamental scientific discoveries at the convergence of social science, engineering, workforce development, and health. She is also the Director of Technology and Human Research in Engineering Design lab, which conducts research at the intersection of engineering design, manufacturing, and deep tech startups. Lastly, she is the Associate Director of Outreach and Inclusion at the Penn State Learning Factory, helping to facilitate meaningful connections between students, industry, and faculty through hands-on design events.