Roger Ball


Professor, School of Industrial Design


roger.ball@design.gatech.edu


Roger Ball is a professor in the School of Industrial Design at Georgia Tech. Ball and his team in the Body Scan Lab develop design tools for fitting the human body using the latest technologies.

His award-winning 3D anthropometric study, SizeChina, created the first digital database of Chinese head and face shapes. As the founder of the Asian Ergonomic Lab at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University his team drove the development of "China-fit” products for global brands. Ball's research clients include Luxottica, Microsoft, 3M, Cartier, Neurosky, and Cirque du Soleil

He has been crafting iconic sports products since 1983 for Burton Snowboards, Fisher-Price, Cooper Canada, Itech Sports, Brine Lacrosse, Bell Helmets, and Nike. During his 25-year teaching career, he has led design studios in North America, Asia, and Europe.

His book, "DesignDirect – how to start your own micro brand," inspires designers to create their own personal brands. His most recent publication, "Headsets - A Design Handbook for Shape and Sound," sets out the diverse requirements for headset design. Both books are available on Amazon.com.

Professor Ball holds an MFA from the Domus Academy in Milan and a Ph.D. in Design Engineering from TU Delft in the Netherlands.

Education

  • PhD | 2008- 2011 | TU Delft University, Faculty of Engineering | Delft, Netherlands
  • MFA | 2002-2003 | Product Design (with Distinction), Domus Academy | Milan, Italy
  • AOCA | 1980-1983 | Industrial Design Diploma, Ontario College of Art and Design | Toronto, Canada

Administrative Experience

Program Leader |  2015 –  present | Masters of Industrial Design, Georgia Tech | USA

  • Responsible for re-designing curriculum
  • Supervision of graduate students (60+)
  • Recruit and train instructors
  • Teach workshop modules and capstone project.
  • Manage program on daily basis.

Program Leader | 2004 – 2015 | MDes in Advanced Practices, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Hong Kong

  • Responsible for developing curriculum, initial course validation, committee work and promotion of MDes program. Extensive experience in supervision of post graduate students (100+)
  • Recruit industrial partners and negotiate contracts.
  • Teach workshop modules and capstone project.
  • Manage program on daily basis.

Lab Leader | 2015 – present  | Body Shape Lab, Georgia Tech | USA

  • Manage three full time research personnel and research engineers and scientists.
  • Develop design tools based on Asian Anthropometric primary research.
  • Integrate research into curriculum
  • Consultancy with industrial partners.
  • Develop international research collaborations and joint research projects.

Lab Leader | 2015 – present  | China Shape Lab, Hunan University | China

  • Manage research personnel and graduate students
  • Develop design tools based on Asian Anthropometric primary research.
  • Integrate research into curriculum
  • Consultancy with industrial partners.
  • Develop international research collaborations and joint research projects.

Lab Leader | 2005 – 2015 | Asian Ergonomic Lab, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Hong Kong

  • Manage three full-time research personnel and research engineers and scientists.
  • Develop design tools based on Asian Anthropometric primary research.
  • Develop new curriculum based on original research
  • Consultancy with industrial partners.
  • Develop international research collaborations and joint research projects. 

Leader | 2007 – 2010 | Co-Leader, SDWorks, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Hong Kong

  • Responsible for creating a business that commercializes student work.
  • Develop curriculum to support entrepreneurship.
  • Negotiate contracts and licensing agreements.
  • Supervise production, packaging, branding and website development.

Program Leader | 2005 –2011 | I-do Summer Workshop, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Hong Kong

  • Leader for 6 week international design workshop. Students from 5 countries form teams to work on industry sponsored projects.

Chairman | 1990 –1992 | Industrial Design Dept , Ontario College of Art and Design | Toronto, Canada

  • Develop post graduate curriculum, responsible for budgeting, committee work and promotion of Industrial Design Dept. Recruiting, interviewing and hiring of staff and instructors.

Teaching Experience

Professor | 2015 – Present | Georgia Tech - College of Design | USA

  • Teach all levels of Industrial Design Program in undergraduate and Masters Programs.
  • Courses includ: Scan & Print, Design Capstone and Grad Studio 1
  • Set up research labs and mentor tenure-track professors and Ph.D. students

Chair Professor 1000 Talents Award | 2015 – Present | Hunan University - School of Industrial Design | China

  • My mission with this prestigious award is to boost the industrial design capability of Chinese University’s
  • Develop curriculum and teach at undergraduate and graduate levels
  • Set up research labs and mentor tenure track Profesors and PhD students

Eric Yim Endowed Professor of Asian Ergonomics | 2003 | 

  • Manage endowment and lead the Asian Ergonomic Central Research Facility. Develop the next generation of China Fit tools.

Professor | 2003 – Present | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Hong Kong

  • Taught all levels of Industrial Design Program in Diploma, Bachelors and Masters Programs. Courses include; Design Studio 3 –Scan & Print, Design Studio 4 - DesignDirect, Design for Leisure, Ergo-Interactive Experience, Strategic Product Design and China Lifestyle Transformation and Capstone Project. Strategies for Sustainable Product Design, Universal Design, Final Year Project.

Assistant Professor (part time) | 1987 – 2003 | Ontario College of Art and Design | Toronto, Canada

  • Taught all levels of Industrial Design Program. Courses included: Advanced Sports Design, Design for Capital Goods and Services, Universal Design, Visual Organization, Visualization and Sketching, Design Methodology, Design Ergonomics and Team leader Year 4 Final Project.

Senior Lecturer | 2002-2001 | Sheridan College of Design and Animation | Oakville, Canada

Senior Lecturer | 2002-2001 | Humber College of Advanced Technology | Toronto, Canada