Jim Budd is a distinguished academic and design professional with over three decades of experience in industrial and interaction design. Currently serving as a Professor and Chair of the School of Industrial Design at Georgia Tech, Budd brings his extensive expertise in human-centered, interactive product design to shape the future of design education and research. He holds a Master of Visual Arts with a major in Industrial Design from the University of Alberta and a Diploma of Applied Arts in Industrial Design from Conestoga College. Throughout his career, Budd has held various academic positions, including roles at Emily Carr University of Art & Design, Carleton University, and Simon Fraser University, complemented by two decades of corporate design experience. His research interests span wearable technologies, interactive products and systems, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Budd has made significant contributions to the field, including establishing and heading the Wearables and Interactive Products Lab at Emily Carr University, developing new curricula and research programs at multiple institutions, and leading strategic planning for growth in design education. His expertise and leadership have been recognized through substantial research grants, including a $2,250,000 grant from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada. A member of the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA) since 1989, Budd has authored numerous journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters on topics ranging from interactive storytelling platforms to design methodologies for interactive products. Throughout his distinguished career, Jim Budd has consistently demonstrated strong leadership in academia, working tirelessly to redefine goals and objectives in design education, particularly in aligning programs with the needs of research institutions and emerging technologies. His multifaceted experience and innovative approach continue to influence and shape the field of industrial and interaction design.