short biography
jan-henrik	andersen … was born and grew up in Trondheim, Norway, and works as an Assistant Professor at the School of Art&Design, University of Michigan. With a background in architecture he earned his diploma from the Institute of Industrial Design at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in Oslo (1984), where he also served as a tenured faculty member until 1996. After a 3 year visiting professorship at Purdue University in Indiana from 1996 to 99, he joined The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1999. His research interests include design methodologies with emphasis on form semantics and the implementation of technology-based design tools. The notion of an inquisitive and holistic approach to design and environmental sustainability is prominent in his work, with a broad approach to obtain design integration of related fields of engineering, the sciences and humanities. His teaching ranges from Design History and Methodology to studio/practice based courses and classes with emphasis on 3D modeling and rapid prototyping. He maintains a professional practice with projects ranging from visual and cross-disciplinary university related research, to development of industrial design products. Andersen has managed or participated in more than 50 industrial design projects ranging from development of sustainable marine farming to electro mechanical durables such as computer workstations and banking machines, as well as consumer products. In 1987-89 Andersen served as Project Manager for a comprehensive public design program for the City of Oslo. Andersen is an avid sailor. Close to heart lives a passion for the complexity of functionality, the water and the wind in combination with sweet lines in designing and sailing boats. Andersen has received awards and grants from national and institutional funding sources; he has lectured and practiced in Europe, the Americas, and the Far East. His work has been published in several languages and he has exhibited his work both in Europe and the US.
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