With its biweekly recurrence, the KDI Exchange creates a regular flow of conversation to facilitate collaboration across disciplines. Each session is led by two or more co-dialogists who represent different perspectives on the topic. Co-dialogists may be faculty, staff, students, or guests. Topics reflect CDes curricula or research interests and/or address pressing social issues. By dovetailing Exchange topics with existing threads of work and conversation, the program both draws from and contributes to the ever-evolving DNA of the College of Design. Exchange dialogues forge new, often unexpected connections across conventional disciplinary boundaries.
Do you have an idea for a great Exchange topic? Want to co-lead a session?
Past Exchange Sessions
Since its inception in January 2021, KDI has hosted the following Exchange sessions.
6/23/2023 | Walk and Talk in the Lyndale Park Peace Garden
Co-Dialogists
Carol Strohecker, Dean of the College of Design
Lynn Tanaka, Rapson Academic Program Administrative Specialist
6/9/2023 | Found Objects & Bio-Inspiration
Co-Dialogists
Carol Strohecker, Dean of the College of Design
Alanna Nissen, KDI Coordinator
5/26/2023 | Unifying Patterns in Nature
Co-Dialogists
Carlye Lauff, KDI Co-Principal and Assistant Professor of Product Design
Carol Strohecker, Dean of the College of Design
5/12/2023 | Similarities of Design Principles, Pedagogy, and Practice in Architecture and Product Design
Co-Dialogists
Richard Graves, Associate Professor of Architecture and Director of the Center for Sustainable Building Research
Gabriel Ruegg, Senior Lecturer of Product Design
4/28/2023 | The Dynamic Surface
Co-Dialogists
James Boyd Brent, Professor of Graphic Design
Jean McElvain, Interim Director and Associate Curator of the Goldstein Museum of Design
Thomas Mahota, Research Assistant
4/14/2023 | Light in Art, Design, and Nature
Co-Dialogists
Diane Willow, Associate Professor of Art, Convener, ArTeS (Art + Technology + Science) Collaborative, Institute for Advanced Study
Emily Snell-Rood, Associate Professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, College of Biological Sciences
3/31/2023 | Descriptive Language for Visual Shapes and Palpable Forms
Co-Dialogists
Carol Strohecker, Dean of the College of Design
Alex Duval, Associate Professor in Practice, Architecture
3/17/2023 | Virtual Reality
Co-Dialogists
Carlye Lauff, KDI Co-Principal and Assistant Professor of Product Design
Molly Sanford, Fabrication Director
Annie Henly, Fabrication Technician
3/3/2023 | Strategies for Repairing Designed Objects
Co-Dialogists
Carlye Lauff, KDI Co-Principal and Assistant Professor of Product Design
Molly Sanford, Fabrication Director
Annie Henly, Fabrication Technician
2/17/2023 | Biodesign Challenge
Co-Dialogists
Cecilia Xi Wang, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design
Michael Winikoff, Director of the Science Communications Lab
2/3/2023 | Data and Design
Co-Dialogists
Susan Sokolowski, Professor of Product Design and Founding Director of the Sports Product Design MS Program, University of Oregon
Ji Youn Shin, Assistant Professor of Product Desgin
1/20/2023 | Organic Modernism
Co-Dialogists
Charissa Terranova, Professor of Art and Architectural History, University of Texas at Dallas
Alex Duval, Associate Professor in Practice, Architecture
1/6/2023 | Mindsets for Empathetic Design
Co-Dialogists
Carol Strohecker, Dean of the College of Desgin
Valeria Lopez Torres, Kusske Research Assistant
12/16/2022 | Intersections of Design, Technology & Nature
Co-Dialogists
Carol Strohecker, Dean of the College of Design
Valeria Lopez Torres, Kusske Research Assistant and PhD candidate, graphic design
12/2/2022 | Biomaterials Brainstorm
Co-Dialogists
Deborah Ultan, Art and Design Librarian
Linsey Griffin, KDI co-principal, assistant professor of apparel design and co-director of the Human Dimensioning Lab
11/18/2022 | Earth-Based Practices
Co-Dialogists
Rebecca Krinke, Director of Graduate Studies and Professor of Landscape Architecture
Torey Erin, Kusske Research Assistant
Christine Flauta, Kusske Fellow
11/4/2022 | From Alphabets to Typography: A Cast of Characters
Co-Dialogists
Bill Moran, teaching specialist, interdisciplinary design and artistic director, Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum
Tom Oliphant, adjunct instructor, interdisciplinary design, furniture designer
10/21/2022 | Conversation Design
Co-Dialogists
Carlye Lauff, KDI co-principal, assistant professor and graduate program director, product design
Valeria Lopez Torres, Kusske Research Assistant and PhD candidate, graphic design
10/7/2022 | Plastics
Co-Dialogists
Carlye Lauff, KDI co-principal, assistant professor and graduate program director, product design
Linsey Griffin, KDI co-principal, assistant professor of apparel design and co-director of the Human Dimensioning Lab
9/23/2022 | Body as Landscape, Cloth as Terrain
Co-Dialogists
Kristine Miller, professor and interim head of the Department of Landscape Architecture
Elizabeth (Missy) Bye, professor of apparel design and co-director of the Human Dimensioning Laboratory
9/9/2022 | Signature Objects, Images & Ideas
Co-Dialogists
Carol Strohecker, Dean of the College of Design
Yiling Zhang, apparel studies doctoral student and peer facilitator for the KDI student cohort
8/26/2022 | Prototyping
Co-Dialogists
Carlye Lauff, KDI Co-Principal and Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Director, Product Design
Molly Sanford, Fabrication Director
8/12/2022 | Furniture Design
Co-Dialogists
Maurice Blanks, co-founder and chief operating officer of Blu Dot
Jonathan Muecke, artist and designer
Jean-François Gomrée, space industrial designer, BLUE ORIGIN
7/15/2022 | Exploring American Identity, Part II
Co-Dialogists
Carol Strohecker, Dean of the College of Design
Trevor Miller, Assistant Dean for Strategy and Advancement
7/1/2022 | Exploring American Identity
Co-Dialogists
Terresa Moses, Associate Professor of Graphic Design and Director of Design Justice
Mia Riza, Director of Human Resources
6/17/2022 | Design and Social Justice
Co-Dialogists
Sheng Thao, Interior Design Coordinator, HDR
Betsy Mowry Voss, Student Services Operations Manager
6/3/2022 | Storytelling and Narrative in Design
Co-Dialogists
John Cuningham, Founder, Cuningham Group; Member, College of Design Advisory Board
Carol Strohecker, Dean of the College of Design
5/20/2022 | Design with Ephemeral Materials (Light, Sound, Air)
Co-Dialogists
Frederick Kennedy, Assistant Professor of Sound Design, Department of Theater Arts and Dance
Abimbola (Abi) Asojo, UMN Distinguished Global Professor and Associate Dean for Research, Creative Scholarship, and Engagement
5/6/2022 | Pathways for Community Youth into Design Education
Co-Dialogists
Abimbola (Abi) Asojo, UMN Distinguished Global Professor and Associate Dean for Research, Creative Scholarship, and Engagement
Kristine Miller, Professor of Landscape Architecture
4/22/2022 | Earth Day
Co-Dialogists
Stephanie Dilworth, Finance Director
Patricia Cummens, Director of Government Strategy and Policy Solutions, Esri and Member of the College of Design Advisory Board
4/8/2022 | Boundary Conditions
Co-Dialogists
Joe Favour, Associate Professor in Practice and Head of the Department of Landscape Architecture
Missy Bye, Professor of Apparel Design and Co-Director of the Human Dimensioning Laboratory
Jennifer Yoos, Professor and Head of the School of Architecture
3/25/2022 | The Future of Design
Co-Dialogists
Julia Robinson, Professor of Architecture
Marilyn DeLong, Professor of Apparel Design
3/11/2022 | Making Connections through Designed Objects
Co-Dialogists
Amanda Smoot, Department Administrator, Department of Landscape Architecture
Alanna Nissen, KDI Coordinator
2/25/2022 | Performance, Improvisation, and Design
Co-Dialogists
Tane Danger, Teaching Specialist
Barry Kudrowitz, Professor and Director of the Product Design Program
2/11/2022 | Design Vocabulary Across Disciplines
Co-Dialogists
Carol Strohecker, Dean of the College of Design
Sauman (Sue) Chu, Professor of Graphic Design and Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Faculty Affairs
12/17/2021 | Design for Digital Realms
Co-Dialogists
Mike Christenson, Professor of Architecture
Naeun (Lauren) Kim, Assistant Professor of Retail Merchandising
View event recording
12/3/2021 | Speculative Design
Co-Dialogists
Karl Engebretson, Lecturer of Graphic Design
Malini Srivastava, Associate Professor of Architecture and Director of the Master of Science in Research Practices
View event recording
11/19/2021 | Sustainability and Creative Re-Use
Co-Dialogists
Rachel Breen, artist
Tracy Krumm, artist and educator
Lindsey Strange, Lecturer of Apparel Design
Jacob Mans, Associate Professor of Architecture
Watch event recording
11/5/2021 | Refiguring Monuments
Co-Dialogists
Rebecca Krinke, Director of Graduate Studies and Professor of Landscape Architecture
Greg Donofrio, Associate Professor of Architecture and Director of the Heritage Studies and Public History Program
10/22/2021 | Designing with Gratitude, Reciprocity, and Alternative Ways of Knowing
Co-Dialogists
Missy Bye, Professor of Apparel Design and Co-Director of the Human Dimensioning Laboratory
Sage Davis, PhD candidate
Rebecca Krinke, Director of Graduate Studies and Professor of Landscape Architecture
10/8/2021 | Vision vs. Fantasy
Co-Dialogists
Patrick Nunnally, Lecturer of Landscape Architecture
Dzenita Hadziomerovic, Lecturer of Architecture
9/24/2021 | Mycelium Materials
Co-Dialogists
Annie Henly, Fabrication Technician
Jennifer Yoos, Professor and Head of the School of Architecture
9/10/2021 | Finding Creative Inspiration in Everyday Experience
Co-Dialogists
James Boyd Brent, Professor of Graphic Design
Lisa Hsieh, Associate Professor of Architecture
8/27/2021 | Circular Economy
Co-Dialogists
Jennifer Yoos, Professor and Head of the School of Architecture
Terri Leung, M.Arch student
Noor Abdelhamid, M.Arch student
8/13/2021 | Becoming a Better Ally and Collaborator Through Anti-Racist Reading
Co-Dialogists
Molly Sanford, Fabrication Director
Chris Schlichting, Academic Advisor
7/30/2021 | Design as Cognition
Co-Dialogists
Brad Hokanson, Mertie Buckman Professor of Design and Director of the Design Graduate Program
Sree Nair, PhD candidate
Tom Oliphant, Adjunct Instructor, Interdisciplinary Design
7/16/2021 | Organizational Change
Co-Dialogists
Amanda Smoot, Department Administrator, Department of Landscape Architecture
Stephanie Dilworth, Finance Director
6/18/2021 | Medical Device and Environment Design
Co-Dialogists
Barry Kudrowitz, Professor and Director of the Product Design Program
Cecilia Wang, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design
6/4/2021 | Design Toolkits
Co-Dialogists
Eugene Park, KDI Co-Principal and Associate Professor of Graphic Design
Jessica Rossi-Mastracci, KDI Co-Principal and Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture
Juanjuan Wu, Director of the Interdisciplinary Design Minor and Professor of Retail Merchandising
5/21/2021 | Ways of Seeing and Designing in Harmony with the Natural World (continued)
Co-Dialogists
Eugene Park, KDI Co-Principal and Associate Professor of Graphic Design
Jessica Rossi-Mastracci, KDI Co-Principal and Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture
5/7/2021 | Ways of Seeing and Designing in Harmony with the Natural World
Co-Dialogists
Eugene Park, KDI Co-Principal and Associate Professor of Graphic Design
Jessica Rossi-Mastracci, KDI Co-Principal and Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture
4/23/2021 | KDI Exchange/Burst: Co-Creation of the One Minute College
Co-Dialogists
Eugene Park, KDI Co-Principal and Associate Professor of Graphic Design
Jessica Rossi-Mastracci, KDI Co-Principal and Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture
4/9/2021 | KDI Exchange/Burst: The One Minute City > The One Minute College
Co-Dialogists
Eugene Park, KDI Co-Principal and Associate Professor of Graphic Design
Jessica Rossi-Mastracci, KDI Co-Principal and Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture
3/26/2021 | KDI Exchange/Burst: Co-Creating the One Minute City
Co-Dialogists
Eugene Park, KDI Co-Principal and Associate Professor of Graphic Design
Jessica Rossi-Mastracci, KDI Co-Principal and Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture
3/12/2021 | KDI Exchange/Burst: The One Minute City
Co-Dialogists
Eugene Park, KDI Co-Principal and Associate Professor of Graphic Design
Jessica Rossi-Mastracci, KDI Co-Principal and Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture
2/26/2021 | How "Influencers" Shape Our Design Approaches
Co-Dialogists
Eugene Park, KDI Co-Principal and Associate Professor of Graphic Design
Jessica Rossi-Mastracci, KDI Co-Principal and Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture
2/12/2021 | Shared Vocabulary
Co-Dialogists
Eugene Park, KDI Co-Principal and Associate Professor of Graphic Design
Jessica Rossi-Mastracci, KDI Co-Principal and Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture
1/29/2021 | Introductions Through Objects/Scenes of the Natural World
Co-Dialogists
Eugene Park, KDI Co-Principal and Associate Professor of Graphic Design
Jessica Rossi-Mastracci, KDI Co-Principal and Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture
Photo credit: "Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) mycelium in petri dish on coffee grounds" by Tobi Kellner is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. View a copy of this license.
