Kendra Kirchmer

In 2021, Kirchmer founded the Vital Design Studio, an interdisciplinary initiative within the College of Architecture, Planning & Design that brings together graduate students from multiple programs to address challenges at the intersection of the built environment and human health. Through collaborative design investigations, students explore how design can foster well-being, accessibility, and resilience. Kirchmer's teaching and research are rooted in human-centered design and the belief that craft is both a mode of making and a way of thinking. Through her teaching, practice, and research, she continues to champion design as an essential force for human flourishing.