Lu Liu
"If we challenge ourselves to be bolder, more imaginative, and more collaborative, to push the boundaries and status quo, we might be surprised by what we could accomplish together."
Go on a Studio Crawl with Dean Liu
Meet Dean Lu Liu
Lu Liu joined Virginia Tech in 2023 as the dean of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design and professor of industrial design. The college is one of the most comprehensive public art and design colleges in the U.S., with approximately 2,000 students and 260 faculty and staff. Under Liu’s leadership, the college has experienced a period of significant growth: between 2023 and 2025, both funded research and fundraising more than doubled, and undergraduate applications rose substantially.
Before joining Virginia Tech, Liu led the Department of Graphic Design and Industrial Design at North Carolina State University from 2012 to 2023. There, he advanced faculty research, increased graduate enrollment by more than 40%, and built strong partnerships with industry leaders such as IBM, Coca-Cola, and Under Armour. He also established NC State’s corporate-sponsored design studio model, which provides students with hands-on experience collaborating with professionals on real-world projects.
Prior to entering academia, Liu spent more than a decade in international product design and management leadership roles across industries, including healthcare, gaming, telecommunications, and children’s products. His professional portfolio includes innovations such as pediatric physical therapy devices, electronic gaming systems, and electric ride-on vehicles, reflecting his user-centered, interdisciplinary approach to design.
Liu’s research, teaching, and creative work have been supported by more than $3 million in sponsored projects with industry and government partners, including Lenovo, Lowe's Home Improvement, Bosch, and Duke University School of Medicine. His scholarship and teaching interests include human-centered design, design thinking, inclusive design, new product development, and design education. He has presented and lectured internationally at leading universities and conferences across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
In 2025, Liu was inducted into the Academy of Fellows of the Industrial Designers Society of America in recognition of his distinguished contributions to design education and leadership. He holds a Master of Industrial Design from Auburn University, an MBA in marketing from Georgia State University, and a Bachelor of Science in industrial design from National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan.