Leidy Klotz

Leidy Klotz

Behavioral Scientist and Professor of Engineering

A man with short brown hair, wearing a light blue t-shirt, stands outdoors in front of green foliage, smiling at the camera.

Leidy Klotz is a behavioral scientist and engineering professor at the University of Virginia who studies how and why humans design. He has written for the Washington Post, Fast Company, Scientific American, and Harvard Business Review. He has also published his work in top journals such as Nature and Science and has been interviewed on Hidden Brain, Freakonomics, and The Atlantic’s How to Build a Happy Life. Klotz has advised clients ranging from the Departments of Energy and Homeland Security to CapitalOne and Amazon.

The cover of "In a Good Place" by Leidy Klotz evokes tranquility, showing a window with a blue sky, two potted plants, and a mug on the sill—perfectly capturing the book’s comforting, “in a good place” theme.
From Swedish playgrounds to American kitchens, how we design our spaces broadcasts our priorities and can help spark broader cultural shifts.