Assistant Professor of Design, Ohio State University
William Nickley is Assistant Professor in the Department of Design at The Ohio State University. He holds an MFA in Design and a BSD in Industrial Design from The Ohio State University, he also studied design at Folkwang Hochschule, Essen as a DAAD scholar. He researches social design practice as a member of the Ohio State DESIS Lab and teaches courses in the industrial design major.
Before joining the faculty of Ohio State's Department of Design in 2020, William spent a decade practicing industrial design in consultancy, in-house and freelance settings, specializing in the development of consumer goods. His work has earned several patents and numerous design and industry awards. William's research lies at the intersection of social design, design methods, and community-engaged design.
He is currently employing co-design to include LGBTQ+ youth in an interdisciplinary research effort to develop training simulations for healthcare providers to improve their affirmative care practice (part of a $2.7 million grant funded by the Ohio Dept. of Medicaid).
He also explores youth design-based making in out-of-school settings, drawing on conceptual frameworks from Positive Youth Development to understand how design and technology can empower youth to enact positive and lasting change; this includes a grant-funded project with Columbus City Schools, as well as engagement with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio.
William is co-founding board member of Local Tech Heroes, a nonprofit engaging underserved communities in the central Ohio region through design. He serves on the departmental Diversity & Belonging, Studios for Art & Design Research, and Industrial Design Area committees, as well as the Arts & Sciences faculty senate. He serves as faculty advisor to the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) Ohio State student chapter.
Statement of Candidacy
I write to express my keen interest in joining the Education Council as the committee member representing the Central District of IDSA. With a strong passion for advancing industrial design education and a background in academia and professional practice, I am confident in my ability to contribute effectively to the Education Council’s vision and mission.
My decade of professional design experience within in-house, consultancy, and freelance settings is bookended by two design degrees, establishing a hybrid academic and practice-based foundation that resonates with the Education Council’s goals. My current role as Assistant Professor of Design at Ohio State puts me in a unique position to assess and advance the development of our next generation of designers. The Education Council’s commitment to elevating industrial design education and fostering collaboration among IDSA members resonates deeply with me. My current role as a faculty advisor to (and once-upon-a-time role as student President of) Ohio State’s student chapter of IDSA – which has hosted more than 25 events in the last 3 years to support and connect its 55+ members within and throughout Central Ohio design communities, including two other IDSA student chapters – underlines my dedication to bridging the gap between academia and real-world practice. Additionally, I’ve been honored to present at IDSA events such as Taboo Schmaboo 2.0 and Taboo Schmaboo 3.0, where I’ve contributed to conversations connecting academia, professional practice, and Central Ohio communities. My recent presentations and publications (often in collaboration with colleagues) on design education challenge conventional curricula, highlighting my dedication to innovative teaching methods. In my teaching, I emphasize critical engagement with emerging technologies, a crucial aspect of a modern designer’s education. This includes using tools like ChatGPT to foster creativity while nurturing awareness of their implications. This practice aligns with IDSA’s forward-thinking stance on educational innovation. In fact, ChatGPT (3.0) co-authored about half of this very statement. My proficiency in social design and community-engaged research mirrors the Education Council’s commitment to inclusivity. These experiences fuel my dedication to diverse perspectives within design education. If elected, I’ll eagerly fulfill responsibilities such as liaising between diverse IDSA communities, reviewing student work for awards, and contributing to future academic policies. My unique blend of academic expertise, professional experience, and commitment to fostering connections within the design community positions me to contribute positively as an Education Council Committee Member. Thank you for considering my candidacy. I’m enthusiastic about the prospect of working to advance industrial design education.
Breaking Down Barriers & Crossing Aisles: No Distance Too Far
A discussion on design education, multidisciplinary teams and industry collaborations
In this panel we will discuss how design education responds to emergent technology through a multidisciplinary user experience design minor, focusing on cross-disciplinary teams in collaboration with industry. We’ll talk about how to address historical challenges facing design education, such as identifying a comprehensive theoretical framework and its impact on the profession. The session will culminate in how to adapt the educational environment for industry collaboration in a meaningful and productive way to meet ever-changing and challenging circumstances.
Presenting with Jason Morris, IDSA and James Rudolph, IDSA
