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Harry West

PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS RESEARCH

318 S.W. Mudd
Mail Code: 4704
United States

Emailhw2599@columbia.edu

Harry West is building a human-centered design and innovation curriculum at Columbia and working at the intersection of design, data and behavior change with a focus on developing new ways to reduce consumption. He is also the Principal of Invisible Design which develops design and innovation solutions to particularly difficult business problems and helps design organizations align their work meaningfully with company strategy.

Research Interests

DESIGN METHODOLOGY; PRODUCT, SERVICE AND EXPERIENCE DESIGN; DESIGN FOR BEHAVIOR CHANGE; SUSTAINABILITY

Research Areas

DesignDevicesSystemsSustainable HumanityCreative Humanity

Links

VISIT INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS RESEARCHVISIT MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Harry was formerly the CEO of frog, Senior Partner at Prophet, and CEO at Continuum where his work ranged from developing new products with P&G - resulting in the creation of Swiffer and ThermaCare - to envisioning new ways for people to interact with financial services with BBVA and Fidelity.

He has worked with a wide range of companies globally including: Alicorp, American Express, Andersen Windows, AstraZeneca, BBVA, BMW, Brooks Automation, CGAP, Cigna, Colgate, Crown Equipment, Fidelity, Master Lock, Motorola, National Park Service, P&G, PNC, Sprint and Tetra Pak.

He has worked on projects in the US, Europe, Asia and South America; with senior executives at the corporate level, and with consumers and customers in the field. Harry has contributed to the design of products and services with ongoing sales of several billion dollars a year and which have won many design awards.

Prior to working in design consulting, Harry was an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT where he taught kinematics and engineering design.

Harry received his BA in Engineering from Cambridge University in 1980, an MS in Technology and Policy from MIT in 1984, and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from MIT in 1986.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Professor of Practice, Columbia University, 2019 – present
  • Principal, Invisible Design, 2019 – present
  • CEO, frog, 2015-2018
  • Senior Partner, Prophet, 2013 – 2015
  • CEO Continuum, 2009 – 2013
  • VP of Strategy, Continuum, 1994 – 2009
  • Associate Professor, MIT, 1992 – 1994
  • Assistant Professor, MIT, 1986 - 1992

DESIGN AWARDS
  • IDSA Design of the Decade - Silver, Design Thinking's Contribution to Business – Swiffer, 2010
  • IDSA Research - Gold, Moen Revolution Showerhead, 2005
  • IDSA Design Explorations - Bronze, Syracuse Synergy Laboratory, 2003
  • IDSA Consumer Products - Gold, Master Lock Titanium Series Padlocks, 2002
  • ID Magazine Annual Design Review – Design Distinction, MasterLock Titanium Series Padlock Line, 2002
  • IDSA Design Explorations - Bronze, Andersen Windows Research, 2001
  • IDSA Transportation - Bronze, MasterLock Steering Wheel & Airbag Lock, 2001
  • Museum of Modern Art, New York, Permanent Collection, Design Continuum, Inc., Master Lock Company Titanium Series Padlock, 1997

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS