Justin Famularo spent almost four years as a surface designer at Rivian and Piaggio Fast Forward as well as a designer of his own compelling wheel brand before joining Lawrence Technological University as assistant professor of practice in 2023. Famularo is the professor students want to work with if they are seeking a future in designing cars and other things that practically, safely, and sustainably get people and goods from here to there. A passionate advocate for alternate modes of transport, he leads the College of Architecture and Design’s new mobility concentration within the Bachelor of Science in Product Design program.
Famularo explains, “Students spend the first two years getting to know what they need to know as a designer. Then they can specialize in mobility, where we teach them not only the glittery parts but the nitty-gritty, the physical user experience, and best practices for bringing complex concepts together in everything the end user sees, feels, and touches.
“Mobility, sure, it’s cars number one, but it’s also power sports, watercraft, aircraft, drones and robots, electric vertical flying cars, the gyrocopters that seat and transport people, and medical devices like wheelchairs.”
Digital and physical modeling is embedded in the design curriculum, as are emerging technologies like AI (artificial intelligence), VR (virtual reality), multimodal prototyping with clay and 3D printing, digital surface tools, visualization tools, and fabrication technologies that give form to creative, provocative, human-centered design solutions at the speed of innovation.
Famularo said, “Our curriculum combines conceptual investigation with practical experience, preparing students for a dynamic and adaptable career in design.”
Famularo always wanted to be a car designer. A New Jersey native, he came to the Detroit area to study at the College for Creative Studies, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Design in 2012. The wheels and 3D modeling behind it led him to General Motors as a creative sculptor and eventually to technology start-ups Rivian and Piaggio Fast Forward.
Located in the heart of a dynamic mobility industry, the mobility program offers real-world experiences to students through industry interaction and proximity to leading design companies. Famularo said, “Even as an undergraduate, students get the chance for hands-on experience working on live projects applying industry best practices and technology-driven processes. They get the experience of working with leaders in the design and mobility industry, which can result in lucrative design career opportunities.”
Mobility Concentration students learn and work with a variety of design software and technologies. These are examples of Famularo’s mobility product designs from demonstration projects:
By: Renée Ahee
