Dr. Linder’s teaching and research efforts are focused on sustainable design, international development, human centered design and creative design methods. These efforts are directed at developing techniques and approaches that further a more ecologically connected and socially informed design practice.

As an experienced teacher and practitioner of product design, Linder regularly advises and delivers workshops for practitioners, educators and the Public. He is a co-organizer of the International Development Design Summit that brings people together from over 20 countries to build local, creative design capacity.

Dr. Linder received a B.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering and a B.S.E. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan where he studied engineering design with Professor Panos Papalambros. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he studied product design and design education with Professor Woodie Flowers.