Associate Chair of Design, Savannah College of Art and Design
Owen Foster's journey from a humble farm boy in Alabama to an influential design educator is a tale of dreams realized and passions pursued. His upbringing in rural landscapes instilled a strong work ethic and a burning desire to better the world. Those foundational years shaped his future, channeling him into a career where he has continually striven to make meaningful contributions and connections.
Owen Foster, WDO and IDSA, has an extensive background in various design disciplines, including architecture, landscape, environmental, and industrial design. His portfolio is as diverse as it is substantial, ranging from small consumer goods to entire eco-friendly municipal environments. While he found success in these endeavors, education indeed called out to him.
Foster initiated his academic career with professorships at Auburn University and the University of Louisiana-Lafayette in industrial design. He then advanced to key roles at SCAD, including serving as ID Group Department Chair, overseeing multiple design disciplines such as industrial design, design management, service design, design for sustainability, business of design, interaction design, and marine design. Under his stewardship, the programs were ranked in the top 10 by DesignIntelligence and Red Dot World Ranking and earned numerous awards from world-renowned competitions.
Owen's career has also included positions as the Director of Innovations at UT Chattanooga Honors College, MIEC Program Director at Morehouse College, and Adjunct Professor at Georgia Tech. He established a positive, community-based, problem-solving learning environment at each institution. One of his noteworthy projects has been the creation of SHiFT Design Camps, an initiative to foster a new generation of empathetic, freethinking design practitioners. Through these camps, Foster and his team have endeavored to nurture leaders capable of meaningful discourse and strategic direction. He is committed to offering a transformative educational experience that encompasses discovery, creativity, and reflection.
Currently, Foster serves as the Associate Chair of Design at SCAD's Atlanta campus, an institution surrounded by Fortune 500 companies and a vibrant arts scene, providing boundless avenues for professional growth. His role allows him to cultivate a world-class industrial design and user experience program and challenge the future of design education. Foster's impact extends beyond academic boundaries. He has facilitated over 20 cross-disciplinary projects with Fortune 500 companies like Coca-Cola, GE, and HP, and led international study programs across multiple continents.
Accolades for his work include being named one of the Top 30 Most Admired Educators in Design, IDSA Educator of the Year in 2015, multiple stints as an IDEA jury member, and currently lead coach of the WDO Young Design Circle. Acting as a mentor to many, Foster is an evangelist for lifelong learning. He believes that every experience is a learning opportunity and that the measure of one's success is directly tied to the extent of personal effort and application. His philosophy has guided his career and led to his feature in a myriad of articles and interviews globally, serving as a testament to the man who once dreamt of making the world a better place on a farm in Alabama.
Statement of Candidacy
I’m genuinely humbled to be up for consideration for the Board of Directors position. The first question that popped into my mind was, “What does this opportunity mean?” I’ve spent over twenty years as a practitioner, educator, and mentor in design and design education. One message has been consistent across all my observations, conversations, and dreams: design can be transformative for society.
So, what role do we play in this? It’s about cultivating an ecosystem of passion, openness, curiosity, and mutual responsibility. An ecosystem where learning and sharing aren’t just possible but are also profoundly encouraged, paving the way for astonishing creations. As a board member, I aim to nurture such communities throughout IDSA and its districts. This ecosystem isn’t just about professional and educational chapters; it’s about enriching the fantastic settings these chapters inhabit. I’m eager to contribute to new platforms and elevate existing programs that are collaborative but also diverse, relevant, and equitable while nurturing a growth mindset.
This position is not a solo mission. Openness and transparency are non-negotiables for me. I plan to be as visible as possible and to actively seek feedback from a diverse group: students, faculty, local chapters, industry collaborators, and thought leaders within the IDSA network. This way, I can have a finger on the pulse of our community’s evolving needs and achievements. I intend to use this knowledge to steer us toward making design and creativity more central in our conversations and actions.
Do I have ambitious goals? Absolutely. Will we achieve all of them? Probably not. But I believe that if you hit every target, you must aim higher. So, let’s aim high together and shape the future of design in ways we’ve only dreamed of. Thank you for considering my candidacy.
Statement of Candidacy (Education Council – South | 2022-2023)
I am truly honored to be considered for the role of South District Chapter Representative. But I began asking myself, what does that even mean? So, I started to reflect on what I have observed, all the countless conversations that I have engaged in, and the things I have dreamed about over the past two-plus decades as a practitioner, educator, and mentor. I found the message to be the same—design and design education together have the potential to grow, push, and lead the world in so many unique ways.
So how do we do that? What part do we play? For me, it’s about creating an ecosystem that fosters deep passion, openness, curiosity, discovery, and mutual responsibility, and to provide an environment for learning, understanding, and sharing that gives people the opportunity to create amazing things. I hope to help foster communities and cultures throughout the South district, along with all other districts, through collaboration, creativity, and awareness. These communities will not just be the IDSA professional and student chapters but must include the amazing environments of which they are a part. We should all be excited to build new platforms and expand current programs that are collaborative, diverse, relevant, and equitable while stimulating a growth mindset.
It’s my opinion that no one can do any of this alone. My approach is to be as open, transparent, and visible as possible. I will ask for feedback and input from a broad population of constituents: faculty and students, local chapters, community members, and industry partners, as well as thought leaders throughout the IDSA network. This will allow me to better understand all the great things that are happening throughout the district and where the needs are to help bring creativity and design to the forefront.
I am the first to admit I have many lofty goals. Will we be able to reach them all? I would say no, but if you are able to reach all of your goals, then your goals are not high enough.
Keynote Presentation: You’re part of the Zombie Apocalypse: It’s not your fault. It’s mine.
Join us for a lively debate covering trends in education, student needs, industry expectations, and institutional capabilities. This conversation will be a fun dialogue that is fueled by our over 30 years of public, private, and non-traditional educational experience. We will embrace diverse perspectives, fill any gaps we find along the way, and envision a future of learning where we aren’t aimlessly following the masses looking for brains.
Co-presented with John McCabe
