For years designers were handed a bundle of more-or-less technical components with the instruction, “make it pretty.” The best of them did so. But today, visual appeal is only a small part of the experience of a product. Barry Katz, consulting professor, Design Group in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University, Palo Alto, California and professor of industrial and interaction design, California College of the Arts, San Francisco will explore today’s complex, multifaceted approach to the designer’s age-old task of giving form to function.

Lunchtime Lectures take place on the first Wednesday of the month at noon in the Charlotte Wendel Education Center. Visitors are welcome to bring food and beverages.