Edward Dormer
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
+1 267 225 1090 / info@lucarne.us
Ver 01.2026
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COLLABORATIVE
SUGARCUBE
Installation/Spatial Design; Curation; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America; 2004–2024
Co-conceived and realized a twenty-year installation that collapsed boundaries between retail space and continuous artistic intervention. Developed integrated spatial systems, branding frameworks, and curatorial programming that helped establish Old City Philadelphia’s cultural identity and influenced independent retail presentation standards nationally. The project launched creative careers and established new models for experiential curation and spatial practice.
Design Farm
Industrial Design; Hopewell, New Jersey, United States of America; 1994–2006
Contracted as an industrial designer within a two-person team specializing in defense, medical, and scientific product development. Relocated on-site to Edge Product Development Corporation technical facilities to lead prototyping workflows for complex projects requiring accelerated production cycles. Responsibilities included ergonomic integration, systems design, and iterative prototyping under demanding technical and timeline constraints.
⌬ Infant Incubator
Medical Device Prototype; Created a trade-show prototype emphasizing advanced environmental controls, user-safety architecture, and clinician-centered interface design for neonatal care.
Edge Product Development Corporation
Industrial Design; Newtown, Pennsylvania, United States of America; 1994–2006
Collaborative contract work, including projects executed through Design Farm as well as direct engagements.
⌬ Infrared Night Vision
Defense/First Responder Technology; Developed an ergonomic prototype of an intuitive visor-interface systems optimized for gloved-hand operation, significantly improving low-light situational responsiveness and field safety.
⌬ United States Naval Ship Navigation Center
Tactical Systems Design; Engineered and fabricated modular consoles and weather-resistant command systems for U.S. Navy vessels, meeting MIL-SPEC and NAVSEA standards for harsh, high-risk operational environments.
⌬ Brain Imaging Center
Medical/Diagnostic System Design; Designed and fabricated a full-size, chair-based MRI prototype prioritizing patient comfort, accessibility, and precision, reducing psychological and physical barriers to advanced neurological imaging.
⌬ Laboratory Plasma Sterilizer
Industrial/Laboratory Systems Design; Developed a working prototype of a high-energy plasma sterilization system integrating UV exposure, electrical shielding, and rigorous safety protocols for laboratory and industrial use.
APPOINTMENTS
ROLES
Please Touch Museum
Lead Exhibit Designer; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America; 1995–1996
Conceptualized, designed, and fabricated immersive, full-scale exhibits integrating complex design constraints with child-development research. Delivered durable, high-traffic environments balancing educational intent with material resilience.
University of the Arts (Theater Arts)
Theater Production Director; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America; 1994–1995
Directed end-to-end realization of departmental productions. Oversaw design, fabrication, installation, and strike of narrative environments. Managed budget optimization through material reclamation and implemented efficient workflow systems for student crews, strengthening technical literacy and production autonomy.
University of the Arts (Graphic Design Department, School of Arts)
Typography Laboratory Director/Instructor; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America; 1991–1993
Redesigned typographic and photographic laboratory systems during a pivotal digital transition, optimizing operational flow for nine academic departments. Served as Master Instructor, supervising and mentoring more than twenty student employees per semester while pioneering unconventional equipment applications to execute complex, interdisciplinary design projects.
Design Line
Industrial Designer; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America; 1988–1990
Developed industrial prototypes and interactive museum exhibits, maintaining conceptual clarity and high aesthetic standards within demanding fabrication timelines and material constraints.
DMC Display Systems
Industrial Designer; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America; 1986–1987
Sole industrial designer for a large-scale heavy-gauge wire manufacturing facility. Produced technical documentation for high-volume production and led expansion of commercial product lines within stringent engineering and fabrication requirements.
Affiliations
Core77 Affiliate; 2025–Present
Design Advocacy Group Affiliate; 2022–Present
Industrial Designers Society of America. Member; 1983–1994
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EDUCATION
University of the Arts Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Bachelor of Science; Industrial Design; 1986
Minor, Fine Art; Advanced Printmaking; 1986
Postgraduate Studies; Printmaking & Book Arts; 1991–1993
insights
METHODS
Dieter Rams
Reductive clarity; functional integrity
Noel Mayo, Jack Andrews
Industrial design pedagogy; practice
William Earl Webster
Aesthetic clarity; foundational design inquiry
Joe Rapone
Typographic systems; editorial design; practice
Anita Bassie, Group M
Systems-based graphic design
April Greiman
Digital integration; Swiss design methodology
Memphis Group
Material experimentation; formal disruption
Guido Buratto, Artemide
Material innovation in lighting design
Samuel Yellin
Craft mastery; material honesty
Massimo Tamburini, Claudio Castiglioni, MV Agusta
Engineering as sculptural form
Le Corbusier
Spatial logic; proportional systems
Peter Rose
Spatial and temporal experimentation in film
Eugene Baguskas
Material process; visual thinking
Douglas Hofstadter
Aesthetics; cognitive patterning; recursive systems
Technical
PRACTICE
Communications
Branding systems, visual identity, typographic frameworks
Product Development
Concept to prototype, ergonomic integration, iterative fabrication
Environmental Design
Retail, museums, restaurants, theater, immersive spatial systems
Fabrication
Metal, wood, plastics; prototyping; heavy-gauge wire fabrication systems
Defense and Medical Systems
Experience with NAVSEA requirements (U.S. Navy naval navigation systems); medical device prototyping; MIL-SPEC hardware specification/procurement
LUCARNE 