Prof. Wayne Li
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