Jennifer’s current research, on the history of the American open plan office, considers the tension between the progressive ideals of the architects, designers, and furniture manufacturers who first promoted the open plan and the material, political, social, and technological problems that workers and organizations encountered as the open plan became a mainstream American office design concept in the late 20th century. Jennifer earned her PhD in Design Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, her MA in the History of Design from the Royal College of Art and Victoria & Albert Museum in London, and her BA in American Culture from Vassar College.