Charles Austen Angell
Charles Austen Angell is the founder of Modern Edge, Inc., a strategic industrial design firm based in Portland, Oregon. Modern Edge is known for original work in UX/UI design, product design and engineering, and service design, with a focus on big-data applications, wearable tech, connected devices, healthcare devices and service design, active lifestyle products, and cockpits/controls/styling for specialty vehicles.
As President and CEO, Angell oversees all Modern Edge projects, from client contact through human factors research, design refinement, product and program management, market positioning, and customer experience.
Mr. Angell brings a rich and diverse background to his company. He maintains a special focus on the role of culture, politics, and geography in shaping human needs and meeting those needs with responsive product design. He is passionate about designing products that transcend cultural boundaries to enhance the shared human experience.
Professional Accomplishments
Before founding Modern Edge, Mr. Angell served as Director of Design Research and Innovation for Intel Corporation. Mr. Angell holds his BSID in Industrial Design from Purdue University and served as Design Lead for a Purdue master’s level engineering grant to develop passive restraint systems for General Motors. His independent design experience spans projects in Europe, the Americas, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Australia. Prior projects include work with Intel, Samsung, John Deere, Providence Health Care, Harley Davidson, SC Johnson, Medtronic, BMW, Gillette, St. Jude Medical, Sunbeam, and many others.
Mr. Angell’s published works include articles in Innovation magazine and other journals of design. He has also been a guest lecturer at NASA, Purdue University, Oregon Health and Science University, the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, and the University of Southern Illinois-Carbondale, and has taught an online masters level class in Sustainable Product development for Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Through his numerous speaking engagements, publications, and teaching, he is committed to advancing the profession of Industrial Design.
In service to the profession, Mr. Angell was on the Board and the Chair Emeritus of the Industrial Designers Society of America, and was one of the five original trustees for the Design Foundation; a public charity in support of design education and social responsibility. https://www.idsa.org/profile/austen-angell/
In 2015, Austen was inducted into the Academy of fellows for IDSA. In January of 2016, A national poll of designers voted him as one of the 50 most notable IDSA members over the last fifty years – a list that includes the founders of Continuum, ZIBA, and IDEO, as well as Raymond Lowey, Sharon Thompson, Nancy Perkins, Henry Dreyfuss, Katherine J. McCoy, Patricia A. Moore, and Walter Dorwin Teague.
Austen also serves on the executive board of the Design Museum. https://designmuseumfoundation.org/team/
He is sought-out as a speaker on design and innovation all over the world and is known for his commitment to design for positive social impact.
Engagements & Publications:
Charles Austen Angell publishes regularly on Substack (Design Intelligence By AustenAngell.Design), Medium, and LinkedIn. Select articles are included in the list below.
Upcoming:
Keynote Speaker, “Beyond Better: If It’s Not Beautiful, Don’t Do It,” Design Wisconsin 5th Annual, Oshkosh Corporation, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, May 30, 2026
Past Events:
Panelist, “AI, Technology, and Human-Centered Innovation for Inclusive Cities,” Welcome Reception (SCC), WEF Davos 2026, Moderator: Sunil Casuba, CEO Smart Talent AI, January 2026
Panelist, “Healthcare Design: Rethinking Targets to SMART Outcomes,” Welcome Reception (SCC), WEF Davos 2026, Moderator: Dr. Melissa Grill-Petersen, Davos, Switzerland, January 2026
Article Author, “The Authority of AI Governance: Democratic Legitimacy Derives from the Consent of Humans,” Charles Austen Angell, Design Intelligence By AustenAngell.Design, December 24, 2025
Article Author, “The Smart City Paradox,” Charles Austen Angell, Smart City Miami Magazine, December 16, 2025
Keynote Speaker, “Humanizing Artificial Intelligence for Efficient and Effective Government Services,” Charles Austen Angell, Smart Cities Summit North America, San Francisco, California, May 7-8, 2025
Keynote Speaker, “Leadership in Scaling Digital Economies: Reimagining Economic Creativity, Connected Industries, and Sustainable Societies,” Charles Austen Angell, AIM Congress 2025, Abu Dhabi, April 8, 2025
Moderator, “Creating Human-Centric Public Spaces in a Digital Age,” Charles Austen Angell, AIM Congress 2025, Abu Dhabi, April 8, 2025
Moderator, “The Inclusive Metropolis: Designing Cities for Equity and Access,” Charles Austen Angell, AIM Congress 2025, Abu Dhabi, April 9, 2025
Article Author, “The Designer’s Guide to Truth: The Illusion of Objectivity in a Subjective World,” Charles Austen Angell, Design Intelligence By AustenAngell.Design, March 11, 2025
Article Author, “AI’s Impact on Design and the Creative Landscape,” Unfold Magazine, Fall 2024
Article Author, “Artificial Intelligence: Promise and Peril,” substack.com/@austenangell, July 20, 2024
Panelist (Fireside Chat), “Adoptive Innovative Technologies in 2024: The Way Ahead of Improving Customers’ Retention Rate,” Charles Austen Angell, ADNEC – Abu Dhabi, UAE, May 7, 2024
Panelist, “Empowering Global Economy through IoT, Digitalization, and AI Systems: The Role of Data-Driven Decision-Making,” Charles Austen Angell, ADNEC – Abu Dhabi, UAE, May 7, 2024
Guest Lecturer, “Humanizing the Impact of AI,” Charles Austen Angell, TU Dublin – Tallaght Campus, Human Centered AI Masters Programme, Dublin, Ireland, March 27, 2024
Article Author, “The Role of Design Disciplines in Creating Our Future,” substack.com/@austenangell, March 19, 2024
Article Author, “The Designer in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,” World Design Magazine, Fall 2023
Keynote Speaker, “Design and Artificial Intelligence,” Monte Shelton Memorial Rally Annual Dinner Lecture, Oregon, August 2023
Article Author, “The Design of Artificial Intelligence,” substack.com/@austenangell, November 11, 2022
Principal Investigator + Presenter, “Accelerating the Growth of the Health Technology Sector in Oregon,” Technology Association of Oregon Ignite: Health 7, Portland, Oregon, January 2020
Principal Investigator, “Accelerating the Growth of the Health Technology in Oregon,” High Impact Oregon Project Grant, State of Oregon, Portland, Oregon, December 2019
Principal Investigator, “Accelerating the Growth of the Health Technology in Oregon, Executive Summary,” High Impact Oregon Project Grant, State of Oregon, Portland, Oregon, December 2019
Keynote Speaker, “Design and Artificial Intelligence,” HIDW2019 International Industrial Design Forum, Chengde, China, November 2019
Keynote Speaker, “Conference Opening Remarks,” HIDW2019 International Industrial Design Forum, Chengde, China, November 2019
Keynote Speaker, “Design and Artificial Intelligence,” International Industrial Design Summit Forum, Shijiazhuang, China, November 2019
Keynote Speaker, “Conference Opening Remarks,” International Industrial Design Summit Forum, Shijiazhuang, China, November 2019
Keynote Speaker, “Creativity + Artificial Intelligence,” STIDA-Sichuan-Taiwan Industrial Design Awards, Chengdu, China, November 2019
Article Author, “Artificial Intelligence, Design Thinking and the Future of Designers as Programmers,” Innovation Magazine, Spring 2019
Keynote Speaker, “Opioids: Designing for a Public Health Crisis,” 2018 Medical Design Experience Conference, 2018
Keynote Speaker, “Future Tense,” IDSA District Conference, Portland, Oregon, April 2017
Keynote Speaker, “What’s Next in AR/VR/AI,” TIE Conference, Portland, Oregon, 2017
Guest Lecturer, “Future Tense and Transportation,” Toyota Lecture Series, Center for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI, 2016
Keynote Speaker, “Future Tense,” Oregon BIO Conference, Portland, Oregon, 2016
Keynote Speaker, “Design Trends in Product, Experience and Service,” USPTO Design Day, Washington, DC, 2016
Panelist, “Reducing Medical Errors,” Medical Device Design Committee Forum, IDSA Medical Conference, San Francisco, CA, 2016
Workshop Presenter, “Service Design and Research,” OHSU – Masters in Healthcare Leadership, Portland, OR, 2016
Article Subject, “Fifty Most Notable Members of the Industrial Designers Society Over the Last Fifty Years,” INNOVATION Magazine, 2016
Keynote Speaker, “Medical Service Design,” Medical Device Design Conference – IDSA, Orlando, FL, 2015
Opening Keynote Speaker, “The Wearables Revolution,” China International Creative Design Forum, Qingdao, China, 2015
Keynote Speaker, “Design in the New Economy,” Sichuan-Taiwan Industrial Design Awards, Chengdu, China, 2015
Article Author, “What I Should Have Said on Stage,” LinkedIn, 2015
Interviewee, “Wearable Technology & Threadcasting, Wearables In Apparel,” Portland Business Journal, Portland, OR, 2015
Keynote Speaker, “Acceptance Speech For Fellowship in IDSA,” IDSA International Conference, Seattle, WA, 2015
Lead Author, “Threadcasting – Wearables In Apparel,” White Paper – Oregon State University, Portland, OR, 2015
Interviewee, “Palmer Johnson Yachts Sky Helm Design,” Show Boats International Magazine, North America, 2015
Acceptee of Government Proclamation, “First National Industrial Design Day,” US Congress Commemoration – Industrial Design, Massachusetts, USA, 2015
Keynote Speaker, “Medical Service Design,” Health Ignite – Conference, Technology Association of Oregon, Portland, OR, 2015
Interviewee, “The User Takes Center Stage in Package Design,” Plastics News Magazine, 2015
Keynote Speaker, “Wearable Tech Revolution,” Shenzhen Industrial Design Profession Association Conference, San Francisco, CA, 2015
Keynote Speaker, “NASA Design Integration,” NASA Space Center, Houston, TX, 2015
Guest Speaker and Lecturer, “Don’t Panic,” World Class Learning Workshop, Portland, OR, 2015
Keynote Speaker, “Autonomous Vehicle Development + Culture,” Detroit Auto Show – Plastics in Automotive, Detroit, MI, 2015
Keynote Speaker, “Medical Device Design Panel Discussion,” Unite – Design Museum Portland, Portland, OR, 2015
Keynote Speaker, “Wearables 3.0, What’s Wrong with the Usage Model?” IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers District Conference, Portland, OR, 2015
Keynote Speaker, “The Service Usage Model in Medical Design,” Medical Device Design Conference – IDSA, Orlando, FL, 2014
Panelist, “Designing Innovation,” IDSA, Ford Motor Company Panel Discussion, Austin, TX, 2014
Keynote Speaker, “Commencement Speech,” Art Institute Graduation Ceremony, Portland, OR, 2014
Keynote Speaker, “Mind, Body, & Soul,” IDSA Southern District Conference, Savannah, GA, 2014
Lecturer, “Professional Development,” Art Institute Lecture Series, Art Institute, Portland, OR, 2014
Keynote Speaker, “Future of Design,” MIAD Lecture Series, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Milwaukee, WI, 2014
Keynote Speaker, “10 Design Lessons from Rally Racing,” IDSA – Portland Social, Portland, OR, 2013
Keynote Speaker, “Building the Design Community,” IDSA International Conference, Chicago, IL, 2013
Keynote Speaker, “Creating Iconic Designs,” World Debut – 2013 Hyundai Sonata New Model, Gyeongsangnam-do, Seoul, Korea, 2013
Keynote Speaker, “Value of Innovation,” Sichuan-Taiwan Industrial Design Awards, Chengdu, China, 2013
Keynote Speaker, “The Color of Money: Birds, Bees, Beards, and Pyramids,” IDSA – Northeast District Design Conference, Hartford, CT, 2013
Judge, “Brand X Challenge,” Design Student Competition, 2013
Interviewee, “Car Design Renaissance Happening in America,” Bloomberg Market Makers, Bloomberg TV, 2013
Keynote Speaker, “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word (when design goes wrong),” CHIFOO – Quantifying Kick-Ass Lecture Series, Portland, OR, 2013
Interviewee, “The Changing Landscape of Service Design,” Business Week, 2013
Keynote Speaker, “Build a Culture of Innovation,” Plastic News Executive Forum, Tampa, FL, 2013
Keynote Speaker, “What to Make?” China International Creative Design Symposium, Beijing, China, 2012
Opening Keynote Speaker, “The Future of Choice,” China International Creative Design Forum, Qingdao, China, 2012
Keynote Speaker, “Do Good!” Opening Night Ceremony, Design Week PDX, Portland, OR, 2012
Conference Chair, “The Future Is…” IDSA International Conference, Boston, MA, 2012
Keynote Speaker, “Entrepreneurialism Workshop,” Portland Incubator Experiment, Portland, OR, 2012
Keynote Speaker & Panelist, “Disruptive Design,” Mercy Corp Headquarters, Portland, OR, 2012
Keynote Speaker, “Realizing Good Intentions,” Sustainability Series – Chicago International Housewares Show, Chicago, IL, 2011
Panelist, “Kenya Disaster Relief Pilot,” IDSA International Conference, New Orleans, LA, 2011
Seminar Speaker, “Leading with Empathy,” IDSA Chicago Symposium, Chicago, IL, 2011
Keynote Speaker, “Sustainable Product Development,” 3M Design Forum Product Design Management Association, Minneapolis, MN, 2009
Keynote Speaker, “Transforming Healthcare,” Transform and Transcend Conference, New Orleans, LA, 2009
Judge, “Student Merit Awards,” IDSA Southern District Conference, New Orleans, LA, 2009
Moderator, “Corporate Design Strategy,” Design Leadership Module POD – P&G Headquarters, Procter and Gamble, Cincinnati, OH, 2007
Keynote Speaker, “There’s No Place Like Home,” Human Factors Engineering Society – Home Health Conference, Washington, DC, 2006
Article Author, “Assisted Living Technologies,” Urban Magazine, Melbourne, Australia, 2006
Article Author, “We’re Better Off at Home,” Urban Magazine, Melbourne, Australia, 2006
Opening Keynote Speaker, “Connecting Home Health,” Connected Home Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 2006
Keynote Speaker, “Design + Process,” Intel Internal Forum, Intel Auditorium, Dublin, Ireland, 2006
Keynote Speaker, “Design and a Few Dangerous Ideas,” IDSA Western District Conference, Tempe, AZ, 2006
Moderator, “Next Design Horizon Forum,” Crown Equipment Headquarters, New Bremen, OH, 2005
Keynote Speaker, “Global Economic and IP Forum,” Society of Plastics – Industry Conference, Charlotte, NC, 2004
Keynote Speaker, “Conference Opening Remarks,” IDSA Mid-east District Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, 2004
Invited Editorial Letter, “Asian Cultural Narratives Revisited,” INNOVATION Magazine, Winter 2004
Invited Editorial Letter, “Asian Cultural Narratives,” INNOVATION Magazine, Spring 2004
Delegate, “Horizon 2010,” Invitation Only – Microsoft Future Design Tech Summit, Scimitar Ridge, WA, 2004
Keynote Speaker, “Better Design Now,” IDSA Southern District Conference, Charlotte, NC, 2004
Presenter, “Role of Design in Manufacturing,” Plastics News Executive Forum, Tempe, AZ, 2003
Moderator, “Design Alignment Forum,” Nissan Design Headquarters, San Diego, CA, 2003
Interviewee, “Going Public with Design,” Residential Architect Magazine, 2003
Keynote Speaker, “Conference Opening Remarks,” IDSA Western District Conference, Pasadena, CA, 2003
Presenter, “Sustainable Futures Lecture Series,” Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, MN, 2002
Presenter, “Consumer Programmable Interfaces,” International Housewares Show, Chicago, IL, 2002
Presenter, “Designing Product Relationships,” IDSA Midwest District Conference, Minneapolis, MN, 2002
Presenter, “Social Capital within Design Organizations,” DMI – Design Management Institute’s 23rd Annual Conference, Chatham, MA, 2001
Article Author, “Role of Social Capital in Design,” ICSID – International Council of Industrial Design Societies Quarterly Publication, 2001
Presenter, “Role of Social Capital in Innovation,” International Council of Industrial Design Societies – North American Conference, Montreal, Canada, 2001
Presenter, “User Centered Design Strategies,” Technology, Media, and Design Conference, Madison, 2001
Guest Editor, “Design Strategy Issue,” INNOVATION Magazine, Summer 2000
Presenter, “Redesigning the Design Brief,” SC Johnson Wax Innovation In-House Conference, Racine, WI, 2000
Article Author, “The Five Minute Mentor,” INNOVATION Magazine, Spring 2000
Conference Chair, “The Gateway: Learn and Grow or Fade Away,” 2000 IDSA Midwest District, Madison, WI, 1999
Presenter, “Sustainable Design Strategies,” International Housewares Show, Chicago, IL, 1999
Conference Chair, “The Creative Culture,” 1999 IDSA Midwest District, Madison, WI, 1999
Teaching Experience
Oregon Health and Science University, 2015, Masters Class Workshop on Service Design, Portland, OR
Portland Institute of Art and Design, 2015; Senior Presentation Review, Class of 20015
Portland Institute of Art and Design, 2014; Senior Portfolio Review, Class of 20014
Portland Institute of Art and Design, 2009; Senior Portfolio Review, Class of 2009
Minneapolis College of Art and Design, 2009; On-line educator, Product Design, Natural Inspiration for Sustainable Products
Minneapolis College of Art and Design, 2006; On-line educator, Product Design, Natural Inspiration for Sustainable Products
University of Minnesota, 2002; Guest Lecture, User Centered Design Forum
Minneapolis College of Art and Design, 2001; Guest Lecture, User Research and Design, Minneapolis, MN
Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, 2001; Guest Lecture, User Innovation and Utility, Milwaukee, WI
Purdue University, 1998; Guest Lecture, Design and You, West Lafayette, IN
ESL English teacher, 1991-1992; Volunteer English Teacher, Korean Community, Chicago, IL
Purdue University, 1988; Volunteer Teacher, Product Development – Super Saturday Program for gifted children, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN
Purdue University, 1987; Volunteer Teacher, Astrophysics & Cosmology – Super Saturday Program for gifted children, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN