Prof. Lutz Fügener began his academic career at the Technical University of Dresden, completing a foundational course in mechanical engineering. He then went on to study industrial design at the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design in Halle/Saale, Germany, graduating in 1995. That same year, he joined the Berlin-based design firm Fisch & Vogel Design as a junior partner. Over time, the studio—now operating under the name studioFT—has become increasingly specialized in transportation design. In 1997, Fügener was made senior partner and co-owner. 

In 2000, he was appointed Professor of Transportation Design and 3D Design at Pforzheim University, where he has since chaired the renowned Bachelor's program in Transportation Design. 

In 2021, Fügener took on the responsibility for the newly established Design & Mobility degree program at Hof University, which focuses on educating the next generation of vehicle designers. Beginning in 2025, he will also teach in the new Master’s course AIAMD (Artificial Intelligence Aided Mobility Design), where he will explore the integration of AI into the design process in depth. 

Beyond academia, Fügener is also a prolific writer and commentator, contributing to newspapers, magazines, and online platforms on the intersection of design and mobility.