Wayne Li

Wayne Li

Professor of the Practice of Design and Engineering
School of Industrial Design

Wayne Li

Professor of the Practice of Design and Engineering
School of Industrial Design

Wayne K. Li is the James L. Oliver Professor, which is a joint position between the Colleges of Design and Engineering. Through classes and the Innovation and Design Collaboration (IDC), he leads joint teaching initiatives and advances interdisciplinary collaboration between mechanical engineering and industrial design. Endowed by School of Industrial Design alumnus James L. Oliver, II (BS ID 1965, ME 1967), the Oliver professor embodies the idea of "multidisciplinary." Li teaches students that design behavior bridges the language and ideological gap between engineering and design. Li’s research areas include ethnographic research, multidisciplinary online education, and human-machine interaction in transportation design.  

Previously, Li led innovation and market expansion for Pottery Barn seasonal home products, was an influential teacher in Stanford University’s design program where he taught visual communication and digital media techniques, led “interface development” in Volkswagen of America’s Electronics Research Laboratory, and developed corporate brand and vehicle differentiation strategies at Ford Motor Company.

He received a Master of Science in Engineering from Stanford University, and undergraduate degrees in Fine Arts in Design and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Education

  • STANFORD UNIVERSITY, PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA -- Fall 2003 - Spring 2005
    Masters of Science in Engineering, Product Design, M.S. G.P.A.: 3.78
  • COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES, DETROIT, MICHIGAN -- Fall 2001 - Fall 2002
    Continuing Education in Industrial/Transportation Design, Cum. G.P.A.: 3.75
  • UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, AUSTIN, TEXAS -- 1993-1998
    Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, with honors, B.S. G.P.A.: 3.73
    Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design, with honors, B.F.A. G.P.A.: 3.73 Cum. G.P.A.: 3.73

Employment History

  • GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, Fall 2010 –Present
    INDUSTRIAL DESIGN / MECHANICAL ENGINEERING – OLIVER PROFESSOR OF DESIGN
  • WAYNE LI DESIGN, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, Fall 2010 –Present
    DESIGN CONSULTANT - PRINCIPAL
  • WILLIAMS SONOMA INC., SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, Summer 2005 –Summer 2010
    POTTERY BARN – PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT – Senior Designer
  • STANFORD UNIVERSITY, PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, Winter 2007 –Spring 2013
    DESIGN PROGRAM – APPOINTED LECTURER
  • VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA Summer –Fall 2004
    PRODUCT DESIGNER – INTERFACE DESIGN LEAD
  • FORD MOTOR COMPANY, DEARBORN, MICHIGAN, Fall 1998 –Fall 2003
    CORPORATE DESIGN AND VEHICLE ENGINEERING – DESIGN STRATEGIST & PRODUCT DESIGNER
  • IDEO PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, Summer 1996
    PRODUCT DESIGNER AND MECHANICAL ENGINEER

Honors and Awards

  • “Thank – a – Teacher” Spring 2017: ID3320 Recipient: CETL Teaching Award
  • Design Intelligence: 30 Most Admired Educators 2015 (Nationally)
  • Class of 1940 Course Survey Teaching Effectiveness Award (2014-5)
  • FY2015 HHS Green Champions 2015: Honorable Mention: Local University Partnership with the CDC Quality and Sustainability Office (CDC)
  • “Thank – a – Teacher” Fall 2012: ID3320 Recipient: CETL Teaching Award
  • “Thank – a – Teacher” Spring 2013: GT2803 Recipient: CETL Teaching Award