My qualifications as a design expert are grounded in more than four decades of design education, professional practice, and international engagement. I am Professor of Industrial Design at the University of Kansas and have twice served as a Fulbright Senior Scholar. I have held full-time teaching appointments at Auburn University and Carrington Technical Institute in New Zealand, taught at Konstfack in Stockholm, and served as a visiting professor at universities in England, Sweden, Australia, Nepal, and India, including IIT Bombay. This breadth of experience provides a strong foundation for my work as a design expert witness, particularly my ability to analyze complex design issues, identify visually significant similarities and differences, and communicate those opinions clearly and persuasively to counsel, courts, and juries.
I bring substantial experience to the role of design expert witness, having authored more than 50 expert reports—primarily in design patent litigation—provided deposition testimony 19 times, and testified at trial on four occasions. Through that experience, I have developed a disciplined approach to expert work that begins with a clear understanding of the legal issues and culminates in opinions that are well-reasoned, visually compelling, and defensible under cross-examination. I place particular emphasis on crafting expert reports that tell a persuasive and readily understood story, supported by carefully selected and strategically developed graphic illustrations that allow judges, jurors, and counsel to quickly grasp complex issues of design and visual comparison. Just as importantly, I understand that the report establishes the foundation for everything that follows. A clear, concise, and thoroughly supported report not only strengthens the underlying opinions but also provides the framework for focused, consistent, and effective testimony at deposition and trial.
Working alone or in collaboration with other professionals, I have designed numerous commercial products, consumer products, aircraft and boat interiors, graphics, packaging, and exhibits. I was chosen by the editors at ID Magazine chose as one of the “Design 50”. In 2022 I was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the School of Architecture and Design at the University of Kansas for exceptional contributions to the design profession.
Recently, my research efforts have been focused toward using design to create sustainable craft-based enterprises in rural communities in the US, Africa, Nepal, and India. Examples of this work are in the Research section of my website.
My qualifications as a design expert are grounded in more than four decades of design education, professional practice, and international engagement. I am Professor of Industrial Design at the University of Kansas and have twice served as a Fulbright Senior Scholar.