Robert A. Lopez

Robert A. Lopez is an Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Media and an Associate Professor of Design at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU). He holds a BFA and MFA in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). His professional roles include design consultant, co-founder of Deft Lunch, and Design Director for client projects through SIU's Collaborative Design Studio course. His research focuses on Latino/Hispanic industrial designers in the U.S., and he has collaborated with firms such as Baysinger Architects and Harman International.

• Education: BFA/MFA in Industrial Design (UIUC)
• Recent Projects: 'Diseñemos Latino/Hispanic Industrial Designers in the United States' book project; design consulting for Boom Designs

His teaching emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, merging Communication Design and Industrial Design students in client-driven projects. He previously served as Assistant Professor at IPFW and Visiting Assistant Professor/UIUC adjunct.