Design Theory Motivates Grad Student's Career Voyage

Graduate student Jason Appler discovered his passion for product design in an unlikely place: an administrative office in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He has experienced the thrills of traveling through dangerous waters as a commercial fisherman in Alaska and as a NOAA Corps officer. But design theory is what motivates him now.

Iterative problem-solving processes based in design theory have become all the rage at leading companies and universities worldwide. Appler first utilized them when working as a strategic planning lead in NOAA’s Office of Performance, Risk and Social Science. The office doesn’t make products, but uses design theory to help the agency’s leadership plan effective policy. Appler says it helps disparate groups of people think creatively as a group and step outside of their box.

“It’s the same process when you develop an app or widget,” says Appler, who holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Villanova University and an MBA from the Naval Postgraduate School. “You feel the pain of the person who has the problem. You keep reiterating until you find a strong solution.”

You feel the pain of the person who has the problem. You keep reiterating until you find a strong solution.” — Jason Appler

Appler recently won the Jerry Streichler Scholar Award from the western U.S. region of Epsilon Pi Tau, an international honor society for design and technology. He received the award at the society’s 90th anniversary board and trustee members conference in September in Orlando, Florida.

Read the entire story on the College of Liberal & Creative Arts website.