Biography
Amy Leidtke, Principal of Leidtke Design, is an
accomplished industrial designer, artist and educator with a standing record
of success combining the disciplines of research, strategic and master
planning, ideation and design development, participatory design workshops, in
an inclusive professional design practice.
Ms. Leidtke has been directly responsible for the
planning, management and coordination of projects reaching millions of people.
From studio to shop, she is experienced in all facets of the design process,
including brainstorming, programming, design and production.
For twenty-plus years, Leidtke has worked on projects such
as immersive play and learning environments, traveling exhibits and products
for mass production, including children’s educational kits/activities, medical
equipment, retail displays and corporate identity systems. She has worked with
clients such as the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Boston Children’s
Museum, Henry Ford Museum/Spirit of Ford, Lincoln Children’s Museum, The
Building for Kids, Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department, Rhode Island School
of Design (RISD), Rotobin, Simplicity and Zoom (educational public
television).
She has a special interest in pediatric design (design for
children), and has devoted most of her career to building an expertise in collaboratively
developing and designing innovative interactive learning and play environments
(museum exhibits and parks), toys, games, activity guides and curricula for
children and families.
Leidtke is a master teaching artist, having served as a
Designer-In-Residence with public and private schools, working with children,
youth and educators to create fun, interactive products and experiences within
the context of academically integrated curriculum. Programs focus on themes
including but not limited to brainstorming, collaboration, empathy,
communication, drawing and design thinking.
Leidtke is a faculty member of SmART Schools, which provides K-12 educators with professional development opportunities, “… dedicated
to creating arts-infused schools and classrooms where students of all
backgrounds are inspired to meet high academic standards.”
Leidtke is on the Arts in Education Roster of Rhode Island State
Council on the Arts (RISCA), a program endorsed by The New England Consortium
of Art-Educator Professionals (NECAP).
Leidtke is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of
Industrial Design and the Department of Continuing Education at Rhode Island
School of Design (RISD), where she teaches design courses, for K-12,
undergraduate and graduate levels. A sampling of past RISD college-level studio
courses include Curiosita: Practical
Applications for Innovative Thinking, Introduction to Industrial Design,
Sketching and Rendering for Industrial Design, Industrial Design Principles,
Industrial Design Investigations, Drawing Boot Camp and Industrial Design
Graduate Studio.
Leidtke is author of RISD Design Connections: Curriculum
Tools for Design Education, which includes a set of design skill-building
projects for middle and high school students.
Upcoming Engagements:
Practical Applications for Assessing Design Thinking, Assessment in the Arts Conference, Denver, Colorado, July 21, 2012
Recent Presentations:
Seeing and Making Mathematical Paper Structures SmART
Schools STEM to STEAM Mini-Institute for Rhode Island Secondary Math
and Science Teachers, Brown University's Institute for Computational and
Experimental Research in Mathematics (ICERM), Providence, RI, May 4,
2012
Developing a Design Class Rubric, RISD’s Department of Teaching and Learning in Art and Design, April 30, 2012
Nature Inspired Design Challenge, SmART
Schools STEM to STEAM Mini-Institute for Rhode Island Secondary Math
and Science Teachers, RISD's Edna Lawrence Nature Lab, Providence, RI,
April 27, 2012
Art and Politics: Where Does Influence Lie?, Featuring a collaborative art-making project as a means to discuss American's right to Freedom of Expression (1st Amendment to the US Constitution), Social Engagement Forum, RISD, April 19, 2012
STEAM-Powered Programs for G6 - 16, GEAR Up Conference, New York City, February 13, 2012
Innovating Minds and Hands:Practical Applications for Teaching Design Thinking, Third Biennial Design Science Symposium, RISD, Providence, RI, November 11, 2011
Innovating Minds and Hands: Fetching Design – an Industrial Design Investigation Workshop for G6-12 Educators and Their Students, SmART Schools Institute, East Providence, RI, August 15 – 19, 2011
Innovating Minds and Hands: How Nature Inspires Innovation, Lecture for RISD Industrial Design Principles Studio, Chase Center Auditorium, RISD, Providence, RI, April 19, 2011