Amy Kern, Assistant Professor in Industrial Design at Metropolitan State University of Denver, received her Masters of Industrial Design from Pratt Institute in New York, her BA in Religious Studies with an East Asian Emphasis from University of California, and has completed various international programs including Scandinavian Furniture Design from Danish School of Design in Copenhagen. Her extensive professional experience, specializing in furniture and lighting design, includes work with factories around the world, major corporate retailers, and custom design consultancies. Putting a premium on comfort and universal design, she has designed hundreds of furniture products for children, seniors, and the bariatric population. Currently teaching a broad spectrum of classes including Product Usability and Ergonomics, Model Making, Advanced Studio Design and Furniture Design, she brings her almost 20 years of professional Industrial Design experience to the classroom. Additionally, she continues to consult a variety of companies and is setting up her own practice, Design Aid, focusing on social impact design. Combining formal aesthetics with human centered principles and ergonomics, Amy Kernas designs are characterized by careful research and her passion for creating experiences people connect with.