Chris Livaudais, IDSA has over 20 years of professional experience at the intersections of design, strategy, innovation, foresight, and organizational leadership. In that time, he has worked on everything from architectural water features and retail environments to smart mattresses and autonomous flying aircraft. His career started with industrial and graphic design but grew over time to include competencies in user research, brand systems, facilitation, service design, and much more. As a creative leader, Chris strives to build team cultures that value trust, are empowered by collaboration, and place design as a fundamental component of business prosperity.
Chris served as the Executive Director of the Industrial Designers Society of America from 2018-2022, where he was responsible for orchestrating a multi-year strategic plan aimed at reinvigorating the membership experience and positioning the organization for future success. Currently, Chris is working as a Senior Design Consultant on the Global Design Team at the Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, Georgia where he leads a cross-functional global team of designers, marketeers, project managers, and executive leadership in creating best-in-class customer experiences for one of the most recognizable brands in the world.
Chris was recognized for supporting IDSA during a time of leadership transition.
I am excited to announce my candidacy for West District Chapter Representative for the 2017-19 term. I believe IDSA has a tremendous future ahead—led by the values and connections of our members. This platform will allow me to focus my energy on working with chapter leaders in the West District. I want to ensure they have the tools and support needed to enrich their local design communities through events, outreach and advocacy.
I have been a member of the association for more than 15 years, and most recently sat on the Board of Directors as South District VP. Concurrent with this, I also chaired two District Design Conferences which drew large audiences of students and professionals alike. My history with IDSA provides me with great insight into how the Society may best position itself to remain relevant to new generations of designers while retaining experienced members. I look forward to collaborating with IDSA national and local teams to provide unparalleled opportunity for professional development and community engagement as the next West District Chapter Representative.
Objects that Talk Back
Designing connected, always on products, is no longer a future proposition for many industrial designers. How should the design process be adapted for this new reality—when conversations happen between people and things? The answer to this question reveals new responsibilities we must accept and new tools we must master in order to create products that continuously listen and respond to us.
Chris Livaudais, IDSA, shares the development story of the ReST Bed, a revolutionary new mattress that simultaneously monitors and responds to a sleeper’s body in real-time throughout the night. When a mattress can talk back—the meaning of intimacy, data collection and comfort quickly become much more personal than ever before. Livaudais will highlight tools used, challenges faced and insights gained to leave the audience with a clear vision of how to design Objects that Talk Back.
