Lisa K. Bambach’s path to becoming a design educator has been shaped by over a decade of professional experience, a deep commitment to collaborative inquiry, and a passion for shaping the future of design. A recent graduate of the Master of Design program at the University of Washington School of Art + Art History + Design, Bambach was honored during the 2025 Graduation Celebration with two of the school’s awards: the de Cillia Graduating with Excellence Award and the de Cillia Teaching with Excellence Award. She was also selected as the graduate student speaker, representing the 2025 cohort at the ceremony in Meany Hall. See 2025 Graduation Awards + Speeches.
Bambach describes graduate school as a long-held dream, one inspired by mentors who modeled the transformative power of advanced study. “After years of questioning whether I should go back to school or not, this opportunity has affirmed my desire to be a design educator,” she shared. Her time at UW became a space for both professional development and personal reflection, culminating in a thesis project titled Prospective Memories: Futures of Monument Design—an immersive exhibition and book that synthesizes research and autobiography into a critical exploration of memory, narrative, and public space. The project was exhibited in the 2025 MFA + MDes Thesis Exhibition at Henry Art Gallery and Design Show 2025: Odds & Ends at the Jacob Lawrence Gallery. It was also presented at the SEGD Academic Summit in June (watch the presentation), and will be published in SEGD's journal Communication + Place.
In her graduation speech, Bambach challenged the notion that design is obsolete in the age of generative technology. “We are not average,” she told the audience. “We have emotion and empathy. We can create what no one else can because we have our own vantage point that cannot be replicated.” For Bambach, design is more than a process—it’s a mindset and a means to envision a better future.
With 13+ years of experience as a designer, strategist, and educator working with Fortune 500 companies, federal agencies, and university students, Bambach is now poised to guide the next generation of creatives. Her work fosters environments where critical thinking, interdisciplinary exploration, and human-centered design thrive.
As she looks ahead, Bambach remains grounded in the community that helped make her journey possible. “The honor of receiving both the De Cillia awards has made me feel seen for my efforts and passion for my field,” she said. “I am humbled to have been selected and grateful to be part of a community that believes in me.”
To learn more about Lisa’s thesis project, visit: