The New Craft: John Anderson and Smart Design's Approach to Human-Centered Design in an AI Era

The New Craft: Smart Design's Approach to Human-Centered Design in an AI Era. An evening with John Anderson and Smart Design NYC.

***This is a free, in-person event hosted by Vivek Rao and the Design & Technology Innovation Masters Program @ Duke University. 

Event Summary:

Smart Design is one of the most storied design and innovation consultancies in the United States, having led pioneering work at the intersection of human experience and technology-enabled products, services, systems and experiences for more than 45 years. From the iconic OXO Good Grips line to digital experiences for Ford to platform innovation for Gatorade: Smart Design has done it all. As a Technology Partner based in Smart Design's NYC headquarters, John Anderson works at the intersection of high-level strategy and technical execution to lead the firm's legacy of success into an exciting new chapter. 

This session explores how Human-Centered Design is evolving now that the "human" is increasingly intertwined with machine intelligence, and will dig into what this has meant both for Smart Design's offering externally and for the way the firm works internally. We will look at the actual tools and processes transforming the studio, from synthesizing strategic insights to detailed mechanical engineering, and what this has meant for the value Smart delivers its clients. Join us for a casual deep dive into how a leading agency is thriving in a new era for human-centered design.

Our Speaker: 

John Anderson is a design and technology leader whose work sits at the intersection of intelligent systems, human-centered design, and advanced hardware/software integration. As a Partner at Smart Design in New York City, he leads multidisciplinary teams across AI and machine learning, embedded systems, connected devices, and Physical AI product development—helping organizations turn ambitious ideas into manufacturable, market-ready products. 

Over more than two decades, John has built a reputation for translating complex technical capabilities into thoughtful, human-centered solutions. His work spans real‑time computer vision, sensor-driven platforms, edge AI pipelines, and systems engineering, supporting the full journey from prototype to scaled production. He has partnered with global brands such as PepsiCo/Gatorade, Springhouse, Google, Samsung, and PayPal on award‑winning products and platforms recognized at CES, SXSW, and the Webby Awards.

Date/time: Thursday, April 2nd 6:30pm-8:30pm

Location: Schiciano Auditorium / Pratt School of Engineering

Parking Instructions: Bryan Center Parking Garage (map). Parking will cost $2/hr; garage is a 12 minute walk from the venue. 

Schedule

    6:15: doors open; sign in to event

    6:30: Welcome and Introductions

    6:40: "The New Craft" with John Anderson, Partner, Smart Design 

    7:45 - 8:30: Reception with Light Refreshments 

Waitlist If the event fills up, you can join the waitlist. Two days before the event if there are spots available, we'll notify those on the waitlist. Any available spots will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Sponsors

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