Designer Michael Hendrix to Present 'Design and the Priesthood of Black Turtlenecks' Lecture on Oct. 24

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Michael Hendrix, a partner at the firm IDEO, will present a lecture at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, in Vol Walker Hall, on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Michael Hendrix will present a lecture at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, in Ken and Linda Sue Shollmier Hall, Room 250 of Vol Walker Hall, on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, as part of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design lecture series.

Hendrix is a partner at IDEO, a firm renowned for decades of innovation. As an executive design director, he splits his time between leadership of the firm's studio in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and global marketing and communications.

During his visit to campus, Hendrix also will conduct a "Design Thinking" weekend workshop for all Honors College students, as well as workshops specifically geared for Fay Jones School honors students. These workshops are supported in part by the Honors College, which is funding initiatives across campus that spark interdisciplinary learning for honors students.

In his lecture, titled "Design and the Priesthood of Black Turtlenecks," Hendrix will talk about design, which can be misunderstood as an artistic endeavor, the personal expression of an individual. While the design process can be driven by a lone visionary, it is more often a highly collaborative effort of authors and producers who are inspired by human needs. This process, driven by empathy, blurs the line between creators and consumers and makes it less clear who identified the need or originated the design. Hendrix will share how this human-centered approach and the firm's methodologies have built a broad portfolio of innovative solutions without a stylistic thumbprint.

Hendrix's career, more than 20 years in the making, has made him a sought-after speaker. He has delivered keynote talks at Wired by Design, SXSW Interactive and SXSW Music, AIGA Gain, Fuse, HOW Design Live, Design Management Institute and Rhode Island Design Week. He is also a regular guest lecturer for professional societies and universities, including Harvard University, Berklee College of Music, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Rhode Island School of Design and, his alma mater, the University of Tennessee.

Hendrix co-founded an art school for high school students, a professional design curriculum for undergraduates, two professional design clubs and three small businesses. One of his businesses, Tricycle, was recognized by Business Week and Fortune as a thought leader for sustainable design. This diversity of roles has provided the opportunity for him to contribute to a number of leading brands and organizations, including Target, Converse, Tempur+Sealy, Steelcase, the DIY Network and the Department of Homeland Security. In 2015, Hendrix served as an advisor to the White House's global entrepreneur initiative, SPARK.

As a graphic designer, Hendrix has received upwards of 50 awards from major design associations and publications in the United States. His work has been included in the permanent collections of the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum and the Denver Art Museum. He is an AIGA Fellow, which recognizes his contribution to raising the standards of excellence in graphic design. He is also a Marshall Memorial Fellow and a BMW Foundation Alumnus, both noting his leadership for civic issues.

This is the Fay Jones School Honors Program Lecture.

This lecture qualifies for American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System learning units. Similar continuing education credits will be pursued through the American Society of Landscape Architects.

The public is invited to attend. Admission is free, with limited seating.

For more information, contact 479-575-4704 or fayjones.uark.edu.