The world is in a perpetual state of flux, constantly evolving and presenting new challenges and opportunities. In this ever-changing landscape, the role of designers becomes increasingly vital. They are the visionaries, the problem solvers, and the agents of change who shape our experiences and interactions with the world around us. But what does it mean to be a designer in a rapidly changing world? How can design be a force for good, driving positive transformation and creating a more equitable future for all?
Join us as we delve into these questions and more with our guest, Raja Schaar, a professor at Drexel University and an esteemed industrial designer with a passion for using design as a tool for social impact and change.
Meet the Guest: Raja Schaar
She is an industrial designer with an extensive background in museum exhibit design who is passionate about ways design can make positive impact intersections with health, the environment, and education.
Raja Schaar, IDSA is Associate Program Director and Assistant Professor of Product Design at Drexel University’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design. She also co-chairs IDSA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. She is an industrial designer with an extensive background in museum exhibit design who is passionate about ways design can make positive impact intersections with health, the environment, and education.
Raja’s interdisciplinary research focuses on addressing inequities in maternal health; methods for engaging black girls and underrepresented minorities in STEM/STEAM through design and technology; innovation and entrepreneurship education; and biologically-inspired design and sustainability.
Raja currently co-leads two collaborative research projects. She works with faculty from Drexel’s College of Nursing and Design and Merchandising Programs the development of low-cost wearables for maternal health. She is co-PI on an interdisciplinary research project funded by the US Department of Education Promise Neighborhood Grant entitled “Black Girls STEAMing through Dance,” where she works with students and faculty from Drexel's departments of Computing and Informatics, Dance, and the School of Education to uncover STEAM identities, literacies, and self-concept in African American girls through the development of wearable technology. Raja is also PI on a VentureWell Faculty Grant that connects Product Design, Biomedical Engineering, and Entrepreneurship to examine the role of clinical immersion on product innovation on campus.
As an educator, Raja works to infuse Drexel’s Product Design Curriculum with society-centered design principles that address impactful, real-world problems. She teaches a number of traditional and research-based studios across the curriculum, but her favorite courses to teach are Interdisciplinary Product Design, Bio-Inspired Design and Sustainability, Design and Waste, and Wearables for Health.
Before joining Drexel's Product Design faculty, Raja taught at Georgia Tech School of Industrial Design and the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at GA Tech and Emory University. Raja received her BSID from Georgia Tech in 2001 and completed her graduate work at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2003.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
- Finding Joy in Work: Regardless of the industry or job title, finding joy in one's work is crucial for career satisfaction and fulfillment.
- The Universality of Design: Design transcends boundaries and can be applied in any field, offering solutions to complex problems and improving people's lives.
- Inclusivity and Diversity: Companies should strive for inclusivity and diversity within their teams, as diverse perspectives lead to more innovative and effective solutions.
- Empathy and Collective Wisdom: In addressing global challenges, empathy and collective wisdom are essential for fostering understanding and collaboration.
- Adaptability: Change is inevitable, and it's essential to adapt and grow with it, embracing new opportunities and challenges along the way.
- Thoughtful Decision-Making: Thoughtful decisions and actions can lead to meaningful change, creating a more just and lasting world for everyone.
💡 Discussion Points:
- The role of designers in anticipating and adapting to change.
- The importance of thoughtful decision-making in creating a more just and lasting world.
- The impact of community and collaboration in design.
- The significance of inclusivity and diversity in design teams.
- The role of empathy and collective wisdom in addressing global issues.
- The importance of adaptability in a constantly changing world.
- The influence of design on various fields and its potential to improve systems and enhance lives.
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