Peter Pfanner

Peter Pfanner is a Research Professor in the Department of Industrial Design at the University of Illinois at Chicago's College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts and a Research Professor of Urology. As Executive Director of the UIC Innovation Center, he drives interdisciplinary collaboration among students and faculty across medicine, business, design, and engineering to transform research into practical applications.

His educational background includes:

• Master of Design Methods (MDM) from the IIT Institute of Design
• Bachelor of Science in Applied Science in Environmental Design from the University of Canberra

Pfanner's research spans industrial, interaction, and experience design with emphasis on medical innovation. His three-decade career includes developing an automatic sewing machine, smart bicycle shorts for erectile dysfunction prevention, and the Uroflow Meter for catheter users. He has extensive experience across mobile communications, consumer electronics, medical devices, office products, furniture, architecture, and materials science.

His award-winning work has been recognized with:

• IDSA/IDEA/Business Week award
• IF Design Hanover award
• Red Dot award
• Cooper Hewitt Museum award
• Good Design Chicago award
• ID Magazine award
• GE Plastics Design award

Through the UIC Innovation Center, Pfanner mentors students and faculty in translating research into market-ready solutions via industry partnerships. His exhibited work has appeared at the Art Institute of Chicago, MOMA New York, Cooper Hewitt Museum, and Chicago Athenaeum.