Kathleen Olsen

Kate Olsen (Pratt MEMS ’86, Master of Educational Foundations, University of Cincinnati ’96) brings extensive design, innovation and graduate education experience to Duke. A past Director of Design and Innovation at Kaleidoscope, Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University’s Segal Design Institute and University of Michigan’s Design Science program, Kate focuses on bringing out the best in her students while sharing joy in the creative process.  Kate’s primary focus is on the application of qualitative research across all stakeholder groups to guide successful product, process, education and community design and innovation.  She has helped guide many new and improved products to market and helped to build successful new curriculum at the graduate level.  Kate is currently co-instructor for Duke’s Design Defense Studio.