Martin Thaler

Martin Thaler is an Associate Professor of Product and Environment Design at the Institute of Design (ID), Illinois Institute of Technology, where he has taught full-time since 2008. He serves as Studio and Fabrication Director, emphasizing hands-on prototyping as a core design thinking method. His work bridges academic research and industry applications, focusing on how design impacts healthcare, education, and business.

Thaler holds a BFA in Industrial Design from the Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA from the Royal College of Art, London. His teaching spans graduate courses in industrial and environmental design, partnering with sponsors like Capital One, Logitech, and the Far Eastern Group's DRIVE initiative in Taiwan. Since 2015, he has led the Taiwan Immersion Program (TIP), a six-week collaborative design project.

His industry experience includes 12 years at IDEO Chicago, co-founding award-winning firm Design Logic, and establishing Article Inc. in 2014. His publications, such as 101 Things I Learned in Product Design School, and exhibitions at the Art Institute of Chicago underscore his contributions to design education and practice. Thaler frequently speaks on topics like local manufacturing and design thinking, blending academic rigor with real-world innovation.