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.
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 20-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.
Courses
Fall 2023 Courses
ID 20ST-04 - SPECIAL TOPIC DESIGN STUDIO
LevelUndergraduate
UnitIndustrial Design
Subject Industrial Design
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
ID 20ST-04
SPECIAL TOPIC DESIGN STUDIO
LevelUndergraduate
UnitIndustrial Design
Subject Industrial Design
PeriodFall 2023
Credits3
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: T | 8:00 AM - 1:00 PMInstructor(s): Amy LeidtkeLocation(s): Bayard Ewing Building, Room 117Enrolled / Capacity: 15Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Juniors take two 3-credit Special Topic Design Studios in the Fall semester. Juniors choose one 3-credit option from the Content category such as Packaging, Typography, Play, or UI/UX, and the other option from the "Process" category such as Casting, Soft Goods or Prototyping. Students will gain multiple competencies by utilizing techniques and methodologies through practice and process. Each studio meets once per week.
Please contact the department for permission to register; registration is not available in Workday.
This course is an introduction to conceptual and manual skills that represent necessary steps in design evolution. Students strengthen skills by completion of several processes and exercises. Critical thinking and concept generation is a primary focus, drawing and model making activities help to establish this process. Throughout the course each student will focus on improving communication skills and the ability to project or sell ideas.
Estimated Cost of Materials: $15.00
Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Industrial Design Students.
The 6-credit Advanced Design studios offer second semester juniors and seniors the opportunity to investigate product, socially responsible, and sustainable design; innovation through science and technology and other topics in contemporary practice. These studios are designed to strengthen the student's ability to conduct research, ideation, material exploration, presentation, and concept validation. Studios meet two days per week. Junior and Senior Industrial Design Students are required to take a total of three (3) advanced studios.
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Preference is given to Junior, Senior or Graduate Industrial Design Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Industrial Design, MID (2.5yr): Industrial Design
