Greg Holderfield

Greg Holderfield is the Executive Director of the Segal Design Institute and Co-Director of the McCormick-Medill Master’s (MMM) Program at Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering. He holds the endowed title of Pentair – D. Eugene and Bonnie L. Nugent Clinical Associate Professor of Design Innovation. His roles include strategic leadership in design education, overseeing the Segal Design Institute’s programs, and co-directing the MMM program, a dual-degree initiative with Kellogg School of Management.

Holderfield earned a PhD in Design from Coventry University (2019), an MS in Product Design and Development Management from Northwestern (2005), and a BFA in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois (1990). His research focuses on design thinking pedagogy, particularly its application in business education. He emphasizes studio-based, interdisciplinary learning and the importance of empathy-driven problem-solving.

His teaching spans undergraduate, graduate, and executive education, with courses like Design Strategy and Business Innovation Lab. Holderfield has led industry collaborations with companies such as Abbott, Google, and Harley-Davidson, and his work has been recognized through 44 design and utility patents. He chairs major initiatives like the Northwestern Design Leadership Series and redesigned the Ford Engineering Design Center.

Recipient of the Masahiro and Eiko Meshii Award for Excellence in Design Education (2016) and the Faculty Member of the Year (2010), Holderfield advocates for a “design innovation for all” ethos at Northwestern. His service includes roles in recruiting, curriculum development, and global executive education programs.