James Ludwig

James Ludwig, Vice President of Global Design and Product Engineering for Steelcase Inc., the global leader in the office furniture industry. Steelcase delivers a better work experience to its customers by providing products, services and insights into the ways people work. Its portfolio includes architecture, furniture and technology products.

James was named to this role in March 2008 with global responsibility for the product design direction of Steelcase, overseeing studios in Europe, Asia and the United States. Additionally, he is responsible for the design direction of all Steelcase showrooms and WorkLife Centers.

Prior to joining Steelcase in 1999, James was a founding partner of bold:architects.designers., an interdisciplinary design consultancy in Berlin, Germany, realizing diverse projects such as furniture and office products, graphic programs for a variety of international clients and new buildings and renovations in the reconstruction of a reunited Germany.

Concurrently, he taught in both the Architecture and Industrial Design departments at the Berlin University of the Arts.

James earned degrees in industrial design from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and architecture from The Cooper Union in New York City. In 1992, he was the recipient of a Fulbright Grant to Berlin.