Rico Ruffino

Background

About Rico Ruffino

At the forefront of industrial design, my role as an Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University interweaves with my commitments as Design Director at Tiger Performance, where my focus is on innovating safety equipment. With over a decade at Tiger Performance, my expertise lies in navigating projects from concept to market, ensuring they meet the highest quality, effectiveness, and compliance standards. My teaching at NCSU and Iroquois Central High School influences real-world design and industry insight, preparing the next generation of designers. Skills in 3D CAD, workflow, and furniture design, connected with an aptitude for educational leadership, drive my devotion to stimulating an environment where creativity meets functionality, aligning with the evolving geography of industrial technologies and sustainability. Managing design teams and projects is a valuable aptitude that has significantly influenced my leadership style. My experience varies from directing the production and growth of safety equipment in an industry setting to leading an academic grant project for a military institution, affording me a well-rounded background in creating, cultivating, disseminating, and leading in sustainability and design.