The Georgia Tech Industrial Design program has a new director. Abir Mullick joins the program this fall from State University of New York at Buffalo, where he taught in the department of architecture. Mullick holds master's degrees in industrial design and city and regional planning, from Ohio State. He received his bachelor's degree from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India.

"We are delighted to have Abir Mullick as our new director of Industrial Design," said College of Architecture Dean Thomas Galloway. "Abir is a perfect fit for the Industrial Design program. He brings a combination of interdisciplinary collaborations along with his experience in universal design that will enhance both the Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (C.A.T.E.A.) as well as the academic programs within the College of Architecture."

Mullick says he is excited to be at Georgia Tech and, after consulting with faculty, staff and students, hopes to create a new vision for the Industrial Design program.

"I would like to see Industrial Design move in a collaborative way," said Mullick. " I'd like to see us expand the department and create bridges across campus."

Much of Mullick's research has been in the universal design area. One of more recent projects was the universal bathroom, sponsored by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. During the course of his research Mullick was able to design two adjustable bathrooms. In these bathrooms two fixtures, the sink and shower, move around the bathroom wall and they adjust. Through fixture movement, the bathrooms reorganize and open up spaces for independent and dependent use, and for care providing situations. The fixtures also adjust in height to accommodate variations in stature including standing users, sitting users and children.

"These bathrooms are intended prolong independence, allow offering care, and assist care-providers," said Mullick. "Unlike current bathrooms, which are designed primarily for independent users, these bathrooms consider the needs of the human life cycle and address dependent use and care providing alongside independent use in the bathroom.
They are excellent examples of how the universal design philosophy can create flexible environment and produce innovative designs that are high in usability, convenience, aesthetics, surprise, and fun."

Mullick replaces Lorraine Justice, who left Georgia Tech to become the head of the Design School at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.