Roger Ball

Roger Ball

Professor, School of Industrial Design

Roger Ball

Professor, School of Industrial Design

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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 | 2007- 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

Director Industrial Design | 2015 – 2018 | Georgia Tech Shenzhen Institute | USA/SZN

In 2015, the Dean and Chair asked me to found a new MID program in our new Georgia Tech Shenzhen Institute (GTSI) My leadership included:

  • Writing the program application, reports and presentations
  • Leading the program through the curriculum committees and onto approval by the Board of Regents
  • Promoting GTID to top Chinese undergrad programs
  • Speaking at GTSI events in China (CPSC)
  • Recruiting faculty and students in ATL and SZ.
  • Collaborating and developing partnership with Tianjin’s ID department

Graduate Program Director | 2015 – 2018 | Georgia Tech | USA

  • Lead three graduate programs
    • MID (Masters of Industrial Design)
    • Msc in HCI/ID (Human Computer Interaction with concentration in Industrial Design)
    • PhD (Industrial Design)
  • Write and implement curriculum
  • Integrate research concentrations; Smart products, Parametric product design and Universal design into curriculum
  • Recruit faculty and students
  • Teach studio classes and supervise thesis project

Graduate Program Leader | 2004 – 2015 | MDes | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Hong Kong

  • Lead three graduate programs
    • Advanced Practices
    • Interaction Design
    • Design Strategies
  • Write and implement curriculum for Advanced Practices
  • Recruit faculty and students

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

  • Develop design tools through primary research
  • Integrate research into curriculum
  • Consultancy with industrial partners

Lab Leader | 2014 – 2017 | 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

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

  • 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

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

  • Founded 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

Associate Chair & Professor | 2015 – 2018 | Georgia Tech - College of Design | USA

  • Taught all levels of Industrial Design Program in undergraduate and Masters Programs.
  • Courses include: Scan & Print, Design Capstone and Grad Studio 1
  • Set up research labs and mentor tenure track Professors and PhD students

Chair Professor 1000 Talents Award | 2015 – 2018 | 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 Professors and PhD students

Eric Yim Endowed Professor of Asian Ergonomics | 2013 - 2015

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

Professor | 2003 – 2015 | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Hong Kong

  • Taught all levels of Industrial Design Program in Bachelors and Masters Programs.
  • Courses include: Design Studio 3 –Scan & Print, Design Studio 4 - DesignDirect, Ergo-Interactive Experience, Strategic Design , China Lifestyle Transformation and 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, Visualization and Sketching, Design Methodology, Design Ergonomics and Final Year Project

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

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

Visiting Professor:

  • Visiting Chair Professor – Hunan University, School of Design, CN, 2014
  • Visiting Professor – University of Technology Sydney, AU, 2011
  • Visiting Professor – TuDelft University, NL, 2009