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Renowned educator and designer Leslie Speer is the inaugural chair of Product Design at MICA.

Product Design Faculty

Leslie Speer

Leslie Speer is a designer and educator with over 20 years experience working for companies and clients in the U.S., Europe, Central America and Mexico, such as Dupont, Philips, Oracle/Sun Microsystems, Frog Design, the Costa Rican Ministry of Culture, Banamex and various non-governmental organizations.

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Jessica Searfino

Jessica is a Senior Industrial Design 3D Specialist at Stanley Black and Decker, where she designs professional power tools for the DEWALT brand. Outside of her work, she has instructed at regional makerspaces ( Open Works and The Foundery) provided technical support at digital fabrication labs and assisted in the design of a range of products. One of her most notable projects is public sculpture design for Light City Baltimore; America’s first large-scale festival of art, music and innovation.

Julie Naga

As a user-centered designer who claims to be able to get along with nearly anyone, Julie has spent her career arguing. Arguing to have user needs be the top design priority with program managers and technical staff. Advocating human centered solutions ranging from military helmet designs, special operations aircraft systems and personal communications gear to government IT systems. Doing this work with Booz Allen Hamilton over the past 13 years has given her a rich understanding of design and research techniques for a wide range of clients. Julie's work can be traced by the evolution of her career identity - from user centered product designer to army maintenance officer to human factors psychologist to human systems integration (HSI) analyst to a user experience (UX) strategist to design thinking facilitator. The common link has always been user advocacy based and he is excited to see what she will be called next. Moving forward, Julie still hopes for a world where everything can be used intuitively without directions, where every device’s unsightly wiring is unseen and where she arrives early for all meetings, kids sporting and scouting events.

Mark Colton

Creative, high-energy designer with 11 years of design experience, including 5 years developing high end cycling equipment at Specialized Bicycle Components. Specialized in industrial design, model making, CAD modeling and design development of consumer electronics, medical devices, cycling equipment and power tools. First hand experience facilitating design development and manufacturing with both local and international suppliers. Maintains a focus on improving the interaction between users and their environment and how design can better facilitate positive user experiences. Currently working as a Sr. Industrial Designer at Stanley Black & Decker for their product expansion division.

Tim Devoe

Timothy DeVoe is an artist working in the media of sculpture, installation and interactive art. Tim received a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art and an MFA in sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has exhibited work internationally as well as across the continental United States.