James TerMeer

James TerMeer is an Associate Professor in the Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Objects department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), holding this position since 2008. He concurrently serves as Partner at Giffin'TerMeer. His academic background includes a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute (1990) and an MDES from Design Academy Eindhoven, The Netherlands (2002).

TerMeer's research focuses on product design processes, material selection, and iterative prototyping. He emphasizes form-language analysis, user interaction, and functional aesthetics in design education. His work has been exhibited globally at venues like Design Nomade (Milan), the 2nd Istanbul Design Biennial, and the Seoul Design Olympiad. His designs are featured in prestigious collections including the Seoul Design Foundation and Designhuis (Eindhoven).

His teaching includes advanced courses such as Designed Objects Studio Two and Whatnot Studio, where students develop collections for SAIC's in-house brand Whatnot. Past Whatnot projects have been showcased at international events like Salone del Mobile (Milan) and Wanted Design (New York). TerMeer has contributed to publications including Ceramics Monthly, Designboom, and Azure.

• Awards: Tokyo Designers Week 2011 Container Competition, Seoul Cycle Design Competition, Merit Award (Flip-a-Strip Architecture Competition)
• Recent Courses: Designed Objects Studio Two (Spring/Fall 2025), Whatnot Studio (Spring/Fall 2025)