Shujan Bertrand

Shujan Bertrand is an accomplished industrial designer and the Chair of the Industrial Design Program at California College of the Arts (CCA). She is also the founder of Aplat Inc., a company based in San Francisco that specializes in sustainable design and zero-waste manufacturing. Bertrand advocates for local manufacturing, supporting organic farms and donating 1% of profits to environmental causes.12

With over 20 years of experience, she has worked internationally in cities like Paris, Milan, and Seoul. Her design expertise spans soft goods design, advanced product development, and strategy, impacting notable brands such as Nike, Samsung, and Procter & Gamble.1 Bertrand is recognized for her innovative approach, utilizing origami principles to minimize waste in her designs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she pivoted her business to produce personal protective equipment (PPE), donating over 20,000 masks to healthcare workers.1

In her role at CCA, she is focused on developing a circular design curriculum that emphasizes sustainability and social responsibility in industrial design education.34 Her contributions have significantly advanced the field of industrial design, particularly regarding women's representation and sustainable practices.1