Currently, Terence D. West is Corporate Director of Research, WorkSpace Futures, for Steelcase Inc., in Grand Rapids Michigan. Steelcase is the global leader in its industry specialized in the design and manufacture of office interior products including furniture, architectural, visual display, and digital technology products.
Using both a formal education in Industrial Design and Product Development and previous experience in leading Product Development, Marketing, International Business, and Corporate Strategy; Terry is responsible for leading a multi-disciplinary advanced research groups in the U.S. and Europe whose expertise includes the engineering sciences, social sciences, architecture, industrial design, and business management.
As a corporate function, the focus of WorkSpace Futures is to provide insight that informs Steelcase’s various business units’ strategies around the world. Additionally the group works with Corporate Strategy to develop foresight in key social and technological areas critical for direction in future business growth.
Terry is a member of the corporate SLT (Steelcase Leadership Management Team) and serves as a Fellow on the Steelcase New Business Ventures Committee. Terry also is on the Advisory Board for Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation, the Advisory Board Georgia Institute of Technology College of Computing Science GVU Center and serves on the selection committee for Georgia Institute of Technology Foley Scholars.
Over the years, Terry’s various teams work have been recognized with over 40 national and international design awards including the top design awards of the United States, Europe and Japan as well as many patents. Prior to his current assignment, Terry lived and worked in Munich, Germany for 5 years establishing Steelcase’s European research node.
1995 - 2000 he was Director of Corporate Strategy and Market Planning leading European Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions.
1992 – 1995 Terry lived in Tokyo, Japan for 3 years with responsibility for Steelcase Asia Pacific Marketing and Product Development.
1984 – 1992 Director of Industrial Design with responsibility for all business units’ new product concepts and design. During his leadership, Steelcase was continuously ranked in Business Week Magazine’s top 10 companies in design.
1978 – 1984 Manager of North American Architect and Design marketing programs in Steelcase North American National Accounts group.
Prior to joining Steelcase, Terry held positions in the Federal Government where he led design research under various grants, focusing on ergonomics, engineering performance testing, and interior architectural planning for handicapped accessibility. Terry began his career at Clement Labs, an industrial design consultancy in Palo Alto, California where he worked on various medical, electronic testing, and consumer products. During this time, he was the industrial design lead on the PARC Xerox Alto Terminal Civic & Vocational Numerous press national and international press interviews & commentary; University guest lecturer, Lehigh University Engineering School, Harvard Graduate School of Architecture, Art Center College of
Design, Waseda University, Japan, and others; author & co-author of numerous professional papers & articles; Fulbright Fellow in Design Management, London, 1987; Retrospective of Product Design at San Jose State University, 1991; Past member of the Board of Advisors, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena; Grand Rapids Michigan Mayor’s Commission for Commemorative Sculpture; Current, Grand Rapids Foundation, Theater Scholarship Committee; Member of IDSA; Steelcase Diversity Council; Board of Industry Advisors,
Georgia Institute of Technology GVU Center; Georgia Institute of Technology, Foley Scholars Award review Committee; Holder of 7 Patents.