Research Summary
Strategy: Non-traditional methods of entrepreneurship, Design Strategy in Business Creation. Creative: Experience Design, Physical Product Design, Digital Product Design, Platform Product Design, Design Management
Education
- Bachelor of Architecture, Architecture, University of Houston
- Master of Architecture, Architecture, Parsons School of Design
- Master of Business Administration, Entrepreneurship and Executive Leadership, University of Houston
Biography
Cord Bowen is a Professor (Clinical) of Strategy and Design at the University of Utah, David Eccles School of Business, within the Department of Entrepreneurship and Strategy. In this role, he also serves as the Director for the Doman Innovation Studio, a campus-wide incubator. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Houston, Hines College of Architecture and Design, a Master of Architecture from Parsons School of Design, The New School in New York City, and an MBA from the Bauer College of Business, University of Houston, with a focus on entrepreneurial finance and leadership.
Before joining the University of Utah, Cord was instrumental in academic program development at the University of Houston. He served as the Undergraduate Foundation Design Coordinator and was a founding faculty member of the industrial design and interior architecture programs. He also acted as the Associate Director for Graduate Studies in Architecture. During his time at the University of Utah, Cord chaired the Multi-Disciplinary Design Program for six years, evolving it into a division within the college.
Centered on elevating the student experience, Cord's teaching philosophy aims to build upon students' existing skills, guided by the principles of craft, rigor, and real-world experience. Over his 22-year teaching career, he has covered a broad range of subjects, including architecture, industrial design, experience design, business, and strategy, in over 100 seminars, electives, and design studios. His teaching has also extended internationally to locations such as Santiago, Nice, and Barcelona.
Beyond the academic sphere, Cord engages in social impact projects focusing on underserved communities. He supports and validates non-traditional methods of entrepreneurship aimed at empowering individuals with essential skills and resources. Additionally, he collaborates with VC firms, mentoring product development for Series A funded companies. His professional creative endeavors encompass experience design projects and consultancy in the creative services industry. Throughout his career, Cord has earned multiple awards for both design and teaching excellence.