Brigid O'Kane

Brigid O'Kane
Associate Professor, School of Design, University of Cincinnati 
Co-Founder of Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center

Brigid O'Kane is known internationally for her award-winning presentations, having been invited to present in many different countries including Germany, Belgium, Korea, Canada, India, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, and the United States. Her research is focused on drawing, design processes, systems design, and developmental models for designers. Through her research, Professor O'Kane generously shares her knowledge through workshops, seminars, and lectures in various contexts and for diverse audiences. She has written numerous papers and articles. Most noteworthy of her publications are nine peer-reviewed papers and a published chapter in ‘Design and Designing.’
 
After graduating from College for Creative Studies in Industrial Design, Brigid O’Kane accepted a position at General Motors (GM) as a Lead Creative Designer. During her more than ten-years of professional experience in this industry she worked on several production and concept vehicles for various brands including Cadillac, Oldsmobile, and Chevrolet. She also worked at the GM Advanced Concept Center in California developing running prototypes of advanced concept vehicles. In 1998 she received the distinguished Award of Excellence for Outstanding Creativity and Leadership. After ten-years at GM she decided to pursue her interests in Production Set Design for the Film Industry in California. This was also the beginning of a philosophical journey of inquiry to reconcile her passion for designing vehicles and her interests in caring for the natural environment. At the time of her departure from General Motors, she was generously awarded a two-year sabbatical.
 
Brigid O'Kane came to the University of Cincinnati in 2000 and continues to teach within the School of Design. Through her teaching efforts she has received numerous awards including Professor of the Year Award in 2007, Dean’s Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievements in 2007, Distinguished PACE Integrator Award in 2011, DesignIntellegence national recognition for one of the 30 Most Admired Educators in 2014, and the special Dean’s Recognition Award in 2016.
 
After leading the School of Design as Interim Director from November 2013 – August 2016 Professor O’Kane was awarded a sabbatical for the academic year of 2016-2017. During this time, she developed chapters for a book that is currently in process. This future publication is a culmination of the knowledge she gained through the aforementioned philosophical journey of inquiry from industry to academia. It links together her research interests in drawing, design processes and systems, and environmental awareness. After returning from her sabbatical, Professor O’Kane’s teaching emphasis shifted away from transportation design and currently focuses on the broader issues of design processes and how these can align with the natural life cycles of the Earth.
 
In 2004, Professor O'Kane co-founded Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center, a non-profit arts organization located in Cincinnati Ohio. This highly successful organization is dedicated to exploring, presenting, and documenting visual art and design from around the world. Manifest has established an international reputation within the arts and design communities. The University of Cincinnati supports and encourages O'Kane's connection with Manifest becasue it provides a valuable external laboratory opportunity giving fresh perspectives on her research in drawing and design. Manifest's mission aligns with UC's strategic direction as it elevates urban outreach as well as academic excellence. 

Master of Fine Art, Summa Cum Laude: University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Ohio, 2005 (Drawing)

Bachelor of Fine Art: College for Creative Studies, Summa Cum Laude Detroit Michigan, 1990 (Industrial Design, Transportation)

Associate of Applied Science, Summa Cum Laude: Macomb College Warren Michigan USA, 1986 (Graphic Communication)

Drawing, Design Processes and Systems, Environmental Awareness

2000 -2001 Freelance Production Set Designer for Film Industry, Los Angeles, CA

1990 -2000 Senior Lead Creative Designer,, General Motors Design Center,, Warren Michigan

2000 -2002 Sabbatical from General Motors,

1989 -1990 Creative Designer for the Cars and Concepts Intrigue Show Car, Cars and Concepts Incorporated, Brighton Michigan

1988 - Creative Designer, Exterior and Interior Creative Concept Development for Various Brands, Prince Corporation, Holland Michigan

1984 -1986 Layout Designer, Technical Illustration for General Dynamics Military Tank Manuals, Pioneer Engineering, Warren, Michigan

2000 -To Present School of Design, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, University of Cincinnati, 2000-present Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati 2013-2016 Interim Director, School of Design 2007-2017 University of Cincinnati Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education (PACE) Global Leadership Committee Member, Coordinator/Integrator for Industrial Design, and Leader for Industrial Design,

2000 -2001 Volunteer Instructor in Design,, Art Center College of Design,, Pasadena California

1995 -2000 Women in Design, Committee Member,, General Motors Design,, Warren Michigan

1990 -1999 Volunteer Instructor in Design,, College for Creative Studies,, Detroit Michigan

1994 -1999 Committee Member,, General Motors Design Educational Team,, Warren Michigan

1995 - Volunteer Instructor in Design,, Cleveland Institute of Art,, Cleveland Ohio

2000 - to present, Associate Professor of Design,, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Ohio

Grant: #StudentStudio Investigators:O'Kane, Brigid 09-01-2005 -06-30-2006 Honda Americas, Incorporated Transportation Design Role:PI $60,000.00 Closed Level:Industry

Grant: #SRS 001257 Investigators:O'Kane, Brigid 06-01-2006 -09-30-2007 Honda Americas, Incorporated The Next "Next" Honda Civic Role:PI $60,000.00 Closed Level:Industry

Grant: #SRS 006011 Investigators:O'Kane, Brigid 10-01-2008 -12-31-2008 Hunan University Lotus Cup Role:PI $10,000.00 Closed Level:Foreign Institution of Higher Education

Peer Reviewed Publications

(2015. ) Advancing the Creative Development Process with Strategic Systems Thinking Methodologies .Computer Aided Design and Applica- tions Journal, ,

(11-2013. ) Advancing the Concept Development Process with Systems Thinking .Computer Aided Design and Applications Journal, ,

Brigid O'Kane, Ben Meyer (08-21-2013. ) Strategic Approaches to Developing Future Mobility Solutions by Applying Systems Integration and Thinking Methodologies . Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) Educational Symposium, ,

Brigid O'Kane, Ben Meyer (07-03-2013. ) Approaches to Developing Creative Future Mobility Solutions by Applying Inclusive Design Strategies .Include Asia 2013 Conference, Global Challenges and Local Solutions in Inclusive Design, Hong Kong China, ,

(07-2011. ) The Role of Proportions in Successful Product Design .2011 Global Annual PACE Forum at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada, ,

(07-2010. ) Approaches to Systems Thinking in the Creative Design Process, New Methods in Problem Solving .2010 Global Annual PACE Forum, Seoul Korea.University of Cincinnati, ,

(03-28-2008. ) Emotional Intelligence and Effective Leadership, Revising Perceptions of Leadership for High Performing Collaborative Teams .2008 Women’s Leadership Conference, University of Cincinnati, ,

(07-2007. ) High Performing Interdisciplinary Teamwork, A Continuum of Expertise .2007 Global Annual PACE Forum, Technische University in Darmstadt Germany, ,

Book Chapter

(03-2012 ) Building Bridges to New Realms Design and Designing .

Invited Presentations

Master of Design Colloquium, taught by Professor J. Chewning.

Design Strategy + Theory course, taught by Professor Craig Vogel.

Architecture, Teaching, & Research Colloquium taught by Professor Nnamdi Elleh, PhD.

Master of Architecture Research Course taught by Professor John Hancock.

Master of Business and Design Course taught by Professor Craig Vogel.

(10-2014. ) Keynote Presentation: Systems Thinking in Transportation Design, Leverage Points for a Better World .China Anting 2013 Automotive Design Conference, Shanghai China.

(07-2014. ) Advancing the Creative Development Process with Strategic Systems Thinking Methodologies .2014 Global Annual PACE Form at Politecnico di Torino, Italy.

(05-2014. ) Applying Creative and Strategic Systems Thinking Methodologies for Future Mobility Solutions .School of Design, International Design Conference, Jiangnan University, Shanghai China.

(10-2013. ) Keynote Presentation: Systems Thinking in Transportation Design, Leverage Points for a Better World .China Anting 2013 Automotive Design Conference, Shanghai China.

(10-2013. ) Transportation Design Strategies to Move the World .School of Design, Jiangnan University, Shanghai China.

Presentation developed with Ben Meyer (07-2013. ) Advancing the Concept Development Process with Strategic Approaches and Powerful Collaborative Teamwork .2013 Global Annual PACE Forum in Pasadena California.

Presentation developed with Ben Meyer (08-2013. ) Strategic Approaches to Developing Future Mobility Solutions .ndustrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) Educational Symposium. Chicago Illinois.

(07-2012. ) A Developmental Model for the Experience of Always Becoming A Designer .2012 Global Annual PACE Forum. Shanghai China.

(04-2012. ) The Future of Mobility at the University of Cincinnati .Provost Ono at the University of Cincinnati.

(07-2011. ) The Role of Proportions in Successful Product Design .2011 Global Annual PACE Forum at University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada.

co-presented with Jussi Timonen from General Motors (04-2011. ) Innovative Mobility Solutions .Advanced Design in California to the PACE Global Executive Sponsor Committee via WebEx.

(10-2010. ) Art and Design in Cincinnati .National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) Annual Meeting held in Cincinnati.

(07-2010. ) Approaches to Systems Thinking in the Creative Design Process, New Methods in Problem Solving. Seoul Korea .2010 Global Annual PACE Forum.

(05-2010. ) Emerging Trends in Sustainable Product and Transportation Design .PDx Amerimold Conference in Cincinnati Ohio.

(02-2010. ) Sustainable Mobility and The Future in Motion .Artesis University College in Antwerpen Belgium during the Workshop Week 2010.

(08-2008. ) Emotional Intelligence and Effective Leadership, Revising Perceptions of Design and Engineering Leadership for High Performing Collaborative Teams .2008 Global Annual PACE Forum at the College for Creative Studies, Detroit Michigan.

(03-2008. ) Emotional Intelligence and Effective Leadership, Revising Perceptions of Leadership for High Performing Collaborative Teams .2008 Women’s Leadership Conference at the University of Cincinnati.

(11-2007. ) Interdisciplinary Teamwork, A Continuum of Expertise .Pecha Kucha presentation at the Autodesk University Conference, Las Vegas Nevada.

(07-2007. ) High Performing Interdisciplinary Teamwork, A Continuum of Expertise .2007 Global Annual PACE Forum, Technische University in Darmstadt Germany.

Symposium

Coordinated with Philip White (06-23-2014. ) Ecodesign Business Models, Okala Practitioner Workshop .

(2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2012) Photography and Composition Workshop .

(08-10-2011. ) Design Drawing: Types of Drawings and Integrated Processes .

(02-2010. ) Sustainable Mobility Workshop Week 2010 .

(08-2008. ) Transportation Design Drawing Workshop and Advanced Transportation Design Drawing Workshop .

(02-2003. ) Automotive Design and Sketching Workshop .

Event Organized

Industry Sponsored Events 2000 To Present Coordinate 6-12 significant industry activities a year including, presentations, workshops and demonstrations, where industry representatives will interact with students

DAAP Summer Camp for the School of Design, Industrial Design Program 06-26-2012 06-27-2012 Coordinated two days of activities and events with Associate Professor Peter Chamberlain, University of Cincinnati

Design Summer Camp, for the School of Design, Industrial Design Program 06-19-2011 06-25-2011 Lead for all activities, lectures, and events for six days with Associate Professor Peter Chamberlain. University of Cincinnati

Sustainable Mobility Project (SMP) 06-24-2010 Planned and developed events, activities, lectures, and workshop within the Transportation Design Track. University of Cincinnati

DesignIntellegence national recognition for one of the 30 Most Admired Educators for 2014 Volume 19, Number 6, November/December 2013

07-25-2013 Faculty Mentor Award From Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education (PACE) for the 2012-2013 Portable Assisted Mobility Device (PAMD)

-07-26-2012 Best Design Presentation For "A Developmental Model for the Experience of Always Becoming A Designer", a peer reviewed presentation given at the 2012 Global Annual PACE Forum in Shanghai China

-2011 Distinguished PACE Integrator Awar For outstanding contributions to the Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education (PACE) global community.

Special Recognition By students for motivating, inspiring, and encouraging graduates at the University of Cincinnati. June 2006, 2007, and 2011

-07-21-2010 Best Design Paper For "Approaches to Systems Thinking and Emergence in the Creative Design Process, New Methods in Solving Problems", a peer reviewed paper given at the 2010 Global Annual PACE Forum in Seoul Korea.

2008 -2009 Special Recognition From PACE for leading three teams of students in the PACE Human Machine Interface Interactive Project

2008 -2009 Special Recognition Award For leading winning teams in the Sustainable Mobility Design Challenge, a national competition

-10-19-2007 Dean’s Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievements As PACE Coordinator, University of Cincinnati

-10-17-2007 Special Recognition Award as PACE Integrator From the Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Education (PACE) organization

-07-26-2007 Best Design Paper For High Performing Interdisciplinary Teamwork, A Continuum of Expertise, a peer reviewed presentation given at the 2007 Global Annual PACE Forum, Technische University in Darmstadt Germany

-06-2007 Professor of the Year Award College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP), University of Cincinnati

-2006 Significant Contributions to the PACE Program Award For leading a winning team of interdisciplinary students for this national PACE competition titled the GM Chevrolet/GMC Truck/SUV Center Console Competition.

-1998 Award of Excellence From General Motors Technical Center, in recognition of achiev- ing extraordinary accomplishments deemed highly significant in improving team relations, processes, and products.

Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education (PACE) (Global leader from Industrial Design for the PACE Global Project Leadership Committee 2010-2013 ) Level:University 2010 -2013

Actively participate in numerous tours, alumni events, and industry visits to the transportation design studios within the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning Level:College 2000 -To Present

PACE Integrator/Coordinator from Industrial Design for PACE activities at the University of Cincinnati Level:College 2007 -To Present

Cluster Hire Committee Member for Manufacturing and Service Level:College 2014 -2015

(DAAP Galleries Committee ) Level:College 2009 -2013

(Grievance Committee, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) ) Level:College 2009 -2011

(Faculty Awards Committee ) Level:College 2008

Level:College 2005 -2007

(Interim Director, School of Design ) Level:Department 2014 -To Present

Art Center College of Design (Chair for Design Presentations, 2013 Global Annual PACE Forum ) Level:Department -07-24-2013

(Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure (RPT) Committee Member ) Level:Department 2012 -2013

2001 -To Present

(Search Committee ) Level:College

General Motors Level:Department 2005 -2009

Level:Department

Level:Department 07-28-2014 -08-01-2014

Level:Department 07-23-2012 -07-26-2013

Level:Department -04-19-2013

Level:Department 07-25-2011 -07-29-2011

Level:Department 05-11-2010 -05-13-2010

-02-05-2010

Level:Department 2006 -2008

Level:Department 10-17-2007 -10-19-2007

Co-Chair for the Global Annual PACE Forum (Papers, Presentations and Posters Committee ) Level:Prof. Org. -2015

(PACE Global Leadership Committee, Leader for Industrial Design ) Level:Prof. Org.

Committee member for the Global Annual PACE Forum (Papers, Presentations and Posters Committee ) Level:Prof. Org. 2012 -2014

PACE Annual Forum (Planning Committee ) Level:Prof. Org. 2007 -2011

Chair of the 2009 PACE Global Annual Forum (Papers and Presentations Committee ) Level:Prof. Org. 2008 -2010

(PACE Planning Committee for the Emerging Market PACE Project ) Level:Prof. Org. 2007 -2008

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) (Presentation Committee for the School of Design accreditation review ) Level:Prof. Org. 2002 -2003

Co-Founder of Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center Type:Community Service Level:Public

Manifest Publications Type:Community Service Level:Public

(Sponsorship Package for Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center for 2009-2010 Season 6 ) 01-2010

Member of the Desales Business District Committee in East Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, OH Type:Community Service Level:Public 2005 -2011

Block Watch Member in East Walnut Hills, Cincinnati Ohio Type:Community Service Level:Public 2003 -2004

Association for Administrative and Professional Women 2002 -2003

Level:Undergraduate

Level:Undergraduate

Level:Undergraduate

Level:Undergraduate

Level:Undergraduate