Kia McCormick is the Maker-in-Residence and a Part-Time Lecturer at the USC Iovine and Young Academy, where she also earned her BS in Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation. A freelance industrial designer with eight years of prototyping and fabrication experience, McCormick works across wood, metal, plastics, and fabrics, with a portfolio spanning children’s toy invention, live experience fabrication, packaging, and consumer product design.
With a passion for sustainable materials and processes, McCormick experiments with both traditional and found materials, integrating environmentally conscious approaches into manufacturing and final products. At the Academy, McCormick supports student projects in the Creator Studio and through courses, while also leading explorations in materials and fabrication that emphasize curiosity, sustainability, and hands-on innovation.