Q & A with Lourdes Livingston

Lourdes Livingston | Graduate Director, School of Web Design + New Media

Q:  The Consul General of Switzerland in San Francisco, Jean-François Lichtenstern, personally recommended you to be one of 10 priority guests for a Study Trip on Design & Innovation. Tell us what you expect to do during your visit.
 
A:  I’ll be examining design-related ventures in private business and academia in Switzerland over the course of 5 days, offering a good update on the latest in Swiss design-related research as well as a close look at some “classics”.

Q:  What does the US need to learn from the Swiss about design and innovation?

A:  The Swiss are experts on how to make things tick when it comes to clocks and watches, as well as problem solving; they look at the big picture, examine a variety of ideas and solutions from all angles before a problem, no matter how big or small, is resolved. Generally, in the US, most design processes work the other way around.
 
Q:  What learning do you hope to bring back to your colleagues and students at AAU?

A:  If the following equation is accurate: Physical + Mental Space = Problem Solving (divided by) Cheese + Chocolate + Alps + Altitude = Clean Design + Innovation.

Lourdes Livingston is the Graduate Director, School of Web Design + New Media. Learn more about her and the faculty of the MFA Program.