Alex Lobos

Alex Lobos serves as Professor and Director of the School of Design within RIT's College of Art and Design, while also holding Visiting Fellow Emeritus status at Autodesk. His career bridges academia and industry, focusing on elevating quality of life through design innovation, emotional attachment, and neurodiverse perspectives.

His educational background includes:

• MFA from the University of Notre Dame
• BID from Universidad Rafael Landivar

Lobos's research explores emotional design and sustainability through computer-aided and generative methodologies, with special emphasis on neurodiversity applications and healthcare technology. His work demonstrates how emotional connections to products can enhance sustainability by extending product lifecycles and improving user experiences.

Recent publications reveal a strategic shift from traditional industrial design toward digital innovation, particularly in generative systems and 3D printing applications. A consistent thread connects emotional design principles with neurodiverse user needs, reflecting his commitment to inclusive solutions that address real-world challenges in home environments and daily living.

His accolades include:

• Eisenhart Award: RIT's highest teaching excellence honor

Lobos advises MFA thesis projects and leads the Neurodiversity Studio, securing major industry funding from Autodesk, AT&T, Colgate-Palmolive, General Electric, Kraft, Makerbot, Staples, Stryker, Sun Products, Unilever, and Wegmans. These partnerships drive applied research in sustainable product ecosystems and assistive technologies.

The Neurodiversity Studio develops specialized systems helping Autistic adults manage daily home activities through organizational tools that prevent sensory overload, exemplifying his human-centered design philosophy in action.