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Scholarship Dissemination

Natacha Poggio - Speaking

Natacha Poggio lectures locally and internationally on the value of art and design education as a catalyst for positive social change. Her passionate talks emphasize the critical role designers play in addressing social challenges and in imagining and building a better and more humane future for all. In a world that is more interconnected, Natacha advocates for a transdisciplinary education reform that allows students to have the capacity to be curious, flexible, open-minded, and globally aware; while exercising their creativity and skills to execute a vision —and when applied to real world problems— make a difference.

  • 2017: Forthcoming
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Designing wellness ecosystems through immersive experiences,” Unite for Sight’s 14th Annual Global Health and Innovation Conference (GHIC), Yale University, New Haven, CT, April 22–23, 2017, 2017.
      {Forthcoming: Invited Speaker}
    • Poggio, Natacha. “No Planet B: Earth in a State of Flux,” KAUST NSF Conference 2017, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, January 30–February 2, 2017.
      {Forthcoming: Invited Speaker as Bright Mind}
    2016:
    2015:
    2014
    2013
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Helping Communities Thrive.” TEDx Bushnell Park Conference, Hartford, CT, June 22, 2013. {Invited Speaker} available
    • Poggio, Natacha, et al. “Making it Work Before the Semester Ends: Cooking by the Book: Amelia Simmons to Martha Stewart.” Better Together: Building Collaborative Relationships, 2013 Connecticut League of History Organizations Annual Conference; Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury, CT, June 3, 2013.
      {Invited Speaker; Panel presented with Prof. Briann Greenfield, Central Connecticut State University, Rebecca Furer and Andrea Rapacz, Connecticut Historical Society} 
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Design Awaken.” Reflection on the exhibition “Graphic Advocacy: International Posters for the Digital Age 2001–2012,” Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA, Feb. 28, 2013.
      {Pecha Kucha presentation: speakers included Alisa Aronson, Matthew Budelman, Kristen Coogan, Michael Hendrix, Fritz Klaetke, Denise Korn, Natacha Poggio, Thomas Starr, Jason Stevens and Clif Stoltze}
    2012
    2011
    • Poggio, Natacha. “The new design paradigm: designers as change agents.” MX2011 4th International Design Conference: Diseño sin Fronteras (Design Without Borders) Universidad IberoAmericana, México City, México, October 28, 2011. pp.180–184.
      {Peer-reviewed Paper Presentation}
    • Poggio, Natacha. “The new design paradigm: students as change agents.” Stir Symposium, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, October 8, 2011. pp.37–43.
      {Peer-reviewed Paper Presentation and Roundtable Discussion}
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Visual Communication Strategies To Improve Healthcare Understanding.” Unite for Sight’s 8th Annual Global Health and Innovation Conference (GHIC), Yale University, New Haven, CT, April 17, 2011.
      {Invited Speaker}
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Design Global Change: The Power of Ideas to Move People” at the Design Studies Forum: Locating the Design Commons session, College Art Association 99th Annual Conference, New York, NY, February 10, 2011.
      {Peer-reviewed Panel Presentation; other forum panelists were Dawn McCusker (Chair), James Madison University; Heather Corcoran, Washington University in St. Louis; Sally Packard, Sage College of Albany; Eric Benson, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Jessica Irish and Jane Pirone, Parsons The New School for Design}
    2010
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Diseño para el Cambio Global, Agente de Cambio Social.” 5° Encuentro Latinoamericano de Diseño, Universidad de Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina, July 27, 2010.
      {Peer-reviewed Presentation}
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Building a Hopeful World: Transformative Endeavors in Making a Difference.” Community Institutes on Peace Education, Lyceum, Hartford, CT. May 21, 2010.
      {Invited Keynote Speaker}
    2009
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Enlivening the Past: Design as Storytelling (at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center)” Art Beyond Sight: Multimodal approaches to learning International Conference, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, October 16, 2009.
      {Peer-reviewed Poster Presentation}
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Communication for Activism.” A Better World By Design 2009 Conference, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI. October 2-4, 2009.
      {Invited Speaker; Panel shared with Scott Stowell, Tom Ockerse, Lucy Hitchcock and Andy Cutler}
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Strategies for Peace, Global Sustainability & Conflict Transformation.” Teaching Peace Across Disciplines, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, April 2, 2009.
      {Invited Panel Presentation}
    2008
  • 2016
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Designing Experiences to Positively Impact Society,” DePaul University, Chicago, IL, April 6, 2016.
      {Invited lecture}
    2015
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Design as a catalyst for global impact,” University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, July 8, 2015.
      {Invited lecture}
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Design with the Community,” Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, June 16, 2015.
      {Invited lecture}
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Trailblazing Collaborations for Social Impact,” Iowa State University, Ames, IA, April 6, 2015.
      {Invited lecture}
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Sustaining Collaborations for a Better Tomorrow,” University of California, Davis, CA, March 9, 2015.
      {Invited lecture}
    2014
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Design Thinking strategies for leadership,” sponsored by The Women Education Leadership Fund, University of Hartford, CT, May 14, 2014.
      {Invited lecture}
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Doing Good: Design for Sustainable Change,” Texas Tech, Lubbock, TX, April 22, 2014.
      {Invited lecture}
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Doing Good: Design for Social Change,” Florida Atlantic University, Fort Lauderdale, March 27, 2014.
      {Invited lecture}
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Doing Good: Design for Social Change,” Oregon State University, Corvalis, OR, March 17, 2014.
      {Invited lecture}
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Designing wellness: “How designers can help solve the global water crisis,” Philadelphia University, Industrial Design Speaker Series. Philadelphia, PA, March 12, 2014.
      {Invited lecture}
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Designing for Social Impact, Strategies for Change” Ontario College of Art and Design University, for the “Think Tank” (GDES-2B03) taught by Prof. Teresa Ascencao. Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 10, 2014.
      {Invited lecture}
    2011
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Empowering Women of the World through Education.” Duncaster Retirement Community, Bloomfield, CT, March 29, 2011 (University of Hartford’s Presidents’ College).
      {Invited lecture}
    2010
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Toward Sustainable Development.” Presidents’ College Kick-off, University of Hartford, CT. September 19, 2010.
      {Invited lecture – with Prof. David Pines and American Friends of Kenya}
    2009
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Design for Activism.” Creative, Artistic, Research Symposium (CARS) Driving Community (symposia sponsored by the Faculty Senate and the Office of the Provost to bring cross-disciplines together), University of Hartford, CT. October 30, 2009.
      {Invited lecture}
    • Poggio, Natacha. “Design as agent of change.” National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India. January 20, 2009.
      {Invited keynote lecture}
    • 2016, November 18: “Re-envisioning Exhibition Design Conference,” Workshop facilitator at “Chaos at the Museum: infiltrating the urban fabric,” Buenos Aires, Argentina.
    • 2014, August 2–16: “Effecting Positive Change with Social Design Initiatives,” Mentor-in-Residence at Project Social Impact Summer Institute, Kingston, MA.
    • 2013, August 10–14: “Design Thinking and Creativity for Social Change,” Mentor-in-Residence at Project Social Impact Summer Institute, Kingston, MA.
    • 2012.April 19–20: “Engaging Community” workshop at Design Ethos: Vision Reconsidered Do-ference, co-facilitated with Prof. Bernard Canniffe (former Chair of Design at Minneapolis College of Art and Design).
    • 2011, April 16–17: “Designing Visual Aids for Global Health Awareness” at Unite for Sight’s 8th Annual Global Health and Innovation Conference, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
    • 2010, May 25: Universal Design: Museum Programs for All, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Hartford, CT.
    • 2008, April 11: Powerpoint Circles: Improving Powerpoint in Teaching and Learning. Faculty Development workshop, University of Hartford, Hartford, CT.
    • 2008, March 4: Emerging Technologies Showcase, presentation on Web 2.0 Technologies, for university faculty. University of Hartford, Hartford, CT.
    • 2012.05.15: Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), RI: Guest critic in “Design for Social Entrepreneurship: Waste for Life” (ID-24ST) taught by Prof. Patricia Gruits, Spring 2012.
    • 2012.05.14: Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), RI: Guest critic in “Art and Design for International Development” taught by Prof. Elizabeth Dean Hermann, Spring 2012.
    • 2010.04.12: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), IL: Guest critic in Master Class on “Design for Water Development Initiatives” (ARTD311) taught by Prof. Eric Benson, Spring 2010.
    • 2010.03.10: University of Hartford, Barney School of Business, CT: Guest critic in “Leadership in the 21st Century” (MGT 421) taught by Prof. Linda Cohen, Spring 2010.
    • 2009.01.16: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)- New Delhi, India: Guest critic in “Designing for Sustainable Development” (DIR813) in the Master of Industrial Design program taught by Prof. Lalit Kumar Das, Spring 2009.

About Natacha

Natacha is a social impact design educator and passionate advocate of art and design for social change. She spearheads award-winning projects that promote sustainable development and educational awareness of global issues. Her strategic work fosters transdisciplinary, multi-level partnerships that bring positive change in local and international communities.

Creative Commons License This work by Natacha Poggio is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Student Work

© Copyright 2000-2014, Natacha Poggio