Alex Lobos
Professor
Alex Lobos
Professor
Bio
Alex Lobos focuses in design, technology and emotional attachment as means to elevate quality of life. He is Professor and Graduate Director of Industrial Design at Rochester Institute of Technology, in upstate New York. He is also a Visiting Fellow Emeritus at software company Autodesk, exploring the future of learning. Alex’s research covers several areas, including emotional design, sustainability, computer-aided design and interdisciplinary collaboration. These efforts have been funded by companies such as Autodesk, AT&T, Colgate-Palmolive, General Electric, Kraft, Makerbot, Staples, Stryker, Sun Products, Unilever and Wegmans. He lectures and teaches frequently throughout Europe, Asia, North and Latin America. Alex is recipient of the Eisenhart Award, RIT’s highest recognition for teaching excellence. He is member of the Advisory Council for Autodesk University, has been a juror for the International Design Excellence (IDEA) Awards, Core77 Awards and the Ibero-American Design Biennial, and has also worked as industrial designer for General Electric. Alex was born in Guatemala, where he started his career as industrial designer, and in 2002 moved to the U.S. as a Fulbright scholar. He holds a MFA from the University of Notre Dame and a BID from Universidad Rafael Landivar. He loves playing drums, long-distance running, and spending time with his family.
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Currently Teaching
In the News
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March 4, 2019
RIT and Autodesk sign agreement that expands collaboration across university
Rochester Institute of Technology and Autodesk, the international software company whose name is synonymous with computer-aided design (CAD) software, have signed a partnership agreement that will expand RIT’s multidisciplinary educational initiatives with Autodesk across the university.
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April 12, 2018
Industrial design professor combines passions at RIT
Associate Professor Alex Lobos is one of the recipients of this year’s Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching.
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November 10, 2020
Lobos’ lamp design included in Ibero American Design Biennial
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September 19, 2019
Professor named Visiting Fellow
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April 19, 2018
Staff and faculty recognized at Celebration of Teaching and Scholarship
Featured Work
MFA ID Thesis 2021-22
MFA ID students
Industrial Design is a discipline focused on applied knowledge and research. It aims at solving relevant user needs that benefit individuals as well as larger contexts. The MFA-ID Thesis at RIT is...
Neurodiversity Studio
MFA and BFA Junior students
To help Autistic adults in everyday activities in and around the home. Systems help users to be more organized and to perform daily tasks without getting overwhelmed, in activities related to eating,...
Checho - traditional smart hub
Alex Lobos
Checho (pronounced Ché-Chó) is a voice-controlled smart home hub that plays music, answers questions, sets lights and appliances, and performs many other tasks in and around the home. It is a design...