Terry Irwin

Terry Irwin is a Professor in the School of Design and Director of the Transition Design Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh. She served as Head of School from 2009-2019, leading efforts to place 'design for society and the environment' at the heart of all programs and curricula. As one of the co-originators of Transition Design (along with Gideon Kossoff and Cameron Tonkinwise), she has pioneered a transdisciplinary approach for addressing complex, wicked problems confronting 21st century societies.

Irwin has been teaching design at the university level since 1986, with previous faculty positions at Otis Parsons College of Art and Design (1986-1989), California College of Arts (1989-2003), and the University of Dundee, Scotland (2007-2009). Her research focuses on Transition Design, Sustainable Design, Goethean Science, and Living Systems Theory.

Her scholarly work demonstrates a clear trajectory toward understanding systems-level change, with recent publications (2022-2025) focusing on wicked problem resolution, the Anthropocene, sustainable transitions, and ecological literacy. The articles reveal her commitment to developing frameworks that address complex socio-ecological challenges through design-led transitions toward more sustainable futures.

• Honorary Doctorate in Design from Emily Carr University, Canada (2019)
• American Institute of Graphic Arts Medal (2021)
• Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Arts, London (2023)

Irwin's academic journey combines rigorous scholarly work with practical design experience. As a co-founder of MetaDesign (an international design firm with offices in Berlin, London, San Francisco and Zurich), she served as Creative Director of the San Francisco office from 1992-2002, working with Fortune 500 clients. This professional background deeply informs her academic work, creating a unique bridge between theory and practice.

She leads the Transition Design Institute, which serves as a hub for research, education, and practice in systemic design approaches. Her collaborative work extends internationally, with numerous co-authored publications and joint research initiatives across continents.