Michael Alden Roller, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Computer Graphics Technology

Introduction

Michael Alden Roller, Ph.D. is a professional designer, researcher, and consultant focusing on user-centered design and design education. His main areas of expertise fall within two areas: user experience design/research and usability testing and analysis. The objective of his work is to help stakeholders design usable, engaging digital products, services, and applications that elevate brand awareness and cultivate user satisfaction.

Research Overview

Roller’s academic research investigates the effectiveness of experiential learning approaches upon design practitioners working within post-secondary societies. The focus of this research is two-fold; identifying the needs of contemporary post-industrial design communities and the methods that best prepare learners to thrive within these communities in authentic, meaningful, and impactful ways.

Select Publications

Roller, M.A. (2021). Implementation of design sprints within user-centered design courses. The Fifteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices. Common Ground Research Networks, Monterrey, Mexico.

Roller, M.A. (2020). Developing empathy among post-secondary design students: A case study in experiential learning. The Twenty-Seventh International Conference on Learning. The Learner Research Network, Valencia, Spain.

Roller, M. A. (2016). A consensus on the definition and knowledge base for computer graphics (Doctoral dissertation). Available from Dissertations & Theses @ CIC Institutions; ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (1834819482).

Abramowitz, H., Johnsen, E., Roller, M. A., Zhao, W., Liu, X., Zhang, L., Zhang, X. (2014). Visualization of ternary phase diagrams in 3D. Materials Education Symposium. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Abramowitz, H., Ye, J., Xu, D., Johnsen, E., Hagen, T., Zhao,W., Roller, M. A. (2009). Construction of a web-based tutorial for 3D visualization ternary phase diagrams. Iron & Steel Technology, 6 (10), 75-85.

Teaching Focus

Roller’s teaching focuses on user-centered design. Currently, he teaches several undergraduate courses on User Experience (UX) Design, User Interface (UI) Design, and Usability Testing and Analysis, including:

• CGT 25000: Foundations of Interaction Design
• CGT 32200: User Interface Design I
• CGT 35200: User Experience Design I
• CGT 42200: User Interface Design II
• CGT 45200: User Experience Design II
• CGT 48000: Usability Testing and Analysis

Previous Roles

Prior to joining PNW, Roller held senior roles in the industry designing, developing, and managing enterprise-level interactive products and applications for an array of multinational corporations including Pfizer, Inc., Siemens Industrial Automation, and Zimmer Biomet, Inc.

Learn More About Michael Roller

• 2023 Teaching Incentive Award Winner
• The Art of Technology: Meet 2022 Graduate Jacob Lindahl