Steve Kaneko Walks Down Memory Lane with University of Washington Industrial Design Leaders

Global Impact Collective founding advisor, Steve Kaneko, wrote a retrospective University of Washington Magazine profile piece on Harold Kawaguchi, Dell King, George McCain, and David Smith – four esteemed members of the University of Washington industrial design alumni community.  

These men played an instrumental role in making the Pacific Northwest a progressive product-design center of excellence for both hardware and software products ranging from consumer goods to medical diagnostic equipment, computer technology, and recreational gear.  

The story documents how they came upon the field of design, the education received at the UW School of Art + Art History + Design, and the way they overcame personal challenges to lead at a time when the profession was still nascent.  Steve also ponders what can be learned from past generations of designers to equip today’s generation facing so much technological change and complex global challenges. 

Global Impact Collective founding advisor, Steve Kaneko