Prof. Mugendi K. M’Rithaa is a transdisciplinary industrial designer, educator, researcher, and consultant at Machakos University, Kenya. Educated in Kenya, the USA, India, and South Africa, he holds degrees in design, industrial design, higher education, and a doctorate in universal design. Widely traveled, he has taught in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, with a focus on socially conscious design, including human-centred design, climate action, social innovation, indigenous knowledge systems, and inclusive design.
He is a founding member and Simba Fellow of the Pan-Afrikan Design Institute (PADI) and serves in advisory roles with several organizations, including the Interior Designers’ Association of Kenya, Open Design Afrika, Nairobi Design Week, and UNESCO’s ICCSD. He is also President Emeritus and Senator of the World Design Organization (WDO), where he was the first African President (2015–2017). Passionate about the role of design thinking and Ubuntu philosophy in Africa’s development, Mugendi continues to champion design as a force for social change and sustainability worldwide.
LinkedIn | Website
