Liz Kramer

Liz Kramer is a Lecturer at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. She previously led the Office for Socially Engaged Practice (2014–2022), focusing on human-centered design and community engagement. Her work spans academia, public policy, and nonprofit sectors, emphasizing collaboration with marginalized communities.

Education:

• Bachelor's degrees in Engineering, Writing, and Theater from Washington University in St. Louis
• Advanced training in Human-Centered Design at Northwestern University

Research Interests: Kramer specializes in designing equitable systems through empathy-driven approaches, including community-engaged teaching, participatory design, and civic innovation. She advocates for frameworks that balance institutional goals with grassroots needs.

Awards: Recognized for her contributions to public transit advocacy (2010 Award) and social innovation leadership (2012 Fellowship).

Advising & Grants: Co-chair of St. Louis Community Mobility Committee and ReDesign Fellowship collaborator with St. Louis Public Schools. Her work integrates academic research with municipal policy and nonprofit strategy.

Labs/Teams: Co-founded Public Design Bureau, a St. Louis-based consultancy specializing in human-centered solutions for public good initiatives. Active in urban gardening and community leadership roles.