Auburn University

Chris Arnold, IDSA
Associate Professor
Auburn University

Chris Arnold, IDSA, is an associate professor at Auburn University. He regularly teaches in the foundations studio sequence and senior thesis design studio—and lectures at the graduate level on design for systems and service.

Educated as an industrial designer and holding a graduate degree in community planning from Auburn, Arnold’s professional experience spans scales and contexts. His research and consulting activity addresses digital/physical interaction and human service systems with special emphasis on design for health and care delivery environments.

Shea Tillman, IDSA
Associate Professor
Auburn University

Shea Tillman, IDSA, is an associate professor at Auburn University. He teaches fourth-year, advanced product design and foundations studios, as well as ID history. His professional experience includes work as an industrial designer with Techtronic Industries (Ryobi, Ridgid, Craftsman tools) and Cooper Lighting, as well as a user researcher with SonicRim.

Tillman has led design and innovation collaborations with companies such as Emerson Tool, Eastman, Werner, Leica Geosystems, and Microsoft, and holds a BID from Auburn University and an MA from The Ohio State University.

Rusty Lay, IDSA
Assistant Professor
Auburn University

Before recently transitioning into academia in 2015, Rusty Lay, IDSA, worked in ID for more than a decade. He designed power tools, furniture, electronics and electronics accessories, medical equipment and more. Lay also ran Hybrid Design with his brother.

Most recently, Lay left his position as a senior industrial designer at Otterbox to take an assistant professor position at Auburn University, where he also received his MID in 2003. He teaches studio and lecture classes.