Dr. Stephanie Tharp

Biography

Stephanie Tharp received a Master of Industrial Design degree from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan. She served as Associate Professor and Program Chair for Industrial Design at the University of Illinois at Chicago's School of Design from 2002 until 2014. Tharp has also held positions at Ford Motor Company, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Armstrong Industries, and Amazon.com. She currently runs Materious, a design studio that produces both commercial and speculative products. Tharp is engaged in a book project titled 'Discursive Design,' which aims to further legitimize and problematize alternative forms of design practice that extend the cultural agency of designers. Her work aims to connect people beyond mere utility, addressing important contemporary psychological, sociological, and ideological concerns. She has exhibited work nationally and internationally and is a recipient of several design awards, including the Future Furniture Competition Winner. Tharp has lectured and presented nationally and internationally, and has received grants from organizations such as Motorola and the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children.

Research Interests