Elizabeth Rendon BetancurGraduate Studentshe/her/hers

I am a PhD student in the School of Human Ecology, pursuing the Environmental Design track within Design Studies. I hold an MFA in furniture design and a BFA in industrial design, complemented by 12 years of professional practice and 10 years of teaching experience. My background includes conceptual and structural design, with a focus on integrating methods, techniques, and emerging technologies to advance innovative design solutions.

Guided by a passion for the natural environment, psychology, and emerging technologies, I have shifted my focus toward biotech design. My research explores the impact of nature on mental well-being in environments of isolation and confinement, with particular emphasis on the design of biophilic therapeutic environments and elements as coping mechanisms across both biological and psychological levels.

Awards and Recognition

• Francis Larkin McCommon Scholarship, Savannah College of Art and Design, 2010