Social Design Expert & Director of Product Design at Lawrence Technological University; Author of "My Robot Gets Me"

Detroit, MI, USA
Live Event: $5,000 - $10,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info

Carla Diana Biography

Carla Diana is a designer, author, and educator who helps organizations navigate emerging technologies through hands-on prototyping and bold creative exploration. As Director of Product Design and Associate Professor at Lawrence Technological University, Diana brings a unique blend of engineering and design to projects ranging from AI-powered robots to immersive public installations.

Diana was the founding Head of Design at Diligent Robotics, where she shaped the company’s entire design vision—from the robot’s physical form to its dynamic behaviors through light, sound, and motion. She now serves as the company’s Design Advisor. Her book, "My Robot Gets Me," offers strategies for designing tech products that foster trust, delight, and connection.

Diana’s work has appeared in The New York Times, MIT Technology Review, and Popular Science, and she has led design efforts at firms like Smart Design and frog. Through keynotes and workshops, Diana inspires teams to build the future with clarity and care.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/18/2025.

Carla Diana Speaking Topics

  • Designing for the 4th Dimension: Social Intelligence in Everyday Objects

    This talk explores how designers can create more meaningful interactions through products that behave in socially intelligent ways. Carla Diana shares case studies from her work in robotics, consumer electronics, and industrial design to show how objects can communicate through expressive behaviors such as light, sound, and motion. These elements enable subtle, nuanced interactions that foster emotional connection. Drawing from her book, "My Robot Gets Me: How Social Design Can Make New Products More Human," she also offers a behind-the-scenes look at work developed by students in the Interaction Design MFA at Cranbrook, where projects often blur the lines between physical and digital experience. The session invites attendees to think beyond screen-based interfaces toward product ecosystems that behave with empathy and responsiveness.

    Takeaways:

    • Social behaviors can enhance emotional resonance in product design.
    • Subtle, expressive cues often communicate more effectively than traditional interfaces.
    • Design frameworks from social robotics can inspire more intuitive smart objects.

  • Designing Everyday Robots with Light, Sound, and Motion

    As robotic products become everyday companions, industrial designers must consider how these objects behave and interact with users in real time. In this session, Carla Diana shares strategies from designing personality-rich interactions through dynamic expressions. Sharing case studies from her work and her book, "My Robot Gets Me: How Social Design Can Make New Products More Human," she presents techniques for rapid prototyping using motion, light, and sound to explore how even simple cues can create complex emotional responses. Through real-world case studies and interactive design methodologies, she demonstrates how expressive behavior transforms utilitarian devices into engaging experiences. This talk offers a toolkit for designers who want to shape not just the look of a product, but how it moves, reacts, and builds relationships.

    Takeaways:

    • Designing behaviors is as important as designing form in robotic products.
    • Prototyping dynamic expression allows for faster iteration and better outcomes.
    • Expressive robotics require new skills at the intersection of design, technology, and narrative.

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Carla Diana Videos

Intersection of Creativity and Technology, with Carla Diana (Lecture)

Intersection of Creativity and Technology, with Carla Diana (Lecture)

What connects emerging technology with empathy, design with storytelling? In this lecture, Carla Diana — designer, author, and researcher —...

Carla Diana - TEDxBangalore

Carla Diana - TEDxBangalore

Maker kids and the future of storytelling

Carla Diana - TEDxEmory

Carla Diana - TEDxEmory

Design Technology in the Internet of Things

  • How do I book Carla Diana to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Carla Diana for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Carla Diana, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Carla Diana or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Carla Diana

    Speaking fees for Carla Diana, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Carla Diana are under $10,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Carla Diana, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Carla Diana speak about?

    Carla Diana is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Art & Design, Artificial Intelligence, Author, Creativity, Engineering, Professors, Robotics, Technology, TED, Women in Tech
  • Where does Carla Diana travel from?

    Carla Diana generally travels from Detroit, MI, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Carla Diana for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Carla Diana for your next private or corporate function.
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Carla Diana is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Designing for the 4th Dimension: Social Intelligence in Everyday Objects, Designing Everyday Robots with Light, Sound, and Motion, Designing for Change: Building Creative Agility in Teams and Practice, Using the Power of Design to Spark Civic Engagement: MobilityTown as a Case Study and Learning to Learn with AI: A Pedagogy for Technological Agility. The estimated speaking fee range to book Carla Diana for your event is available upon request. Carla Diana generally travels from Detroit, MI, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Rori Duboff, Anima Anandkumar, Ayanna Howard, Dr. Heather Knight and Olympia LePoint. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Carla Diana for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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