Derek Parker

Thing’s I’ve Done
I’ve worked on a wide variety of projects ranging from autonomous vehicles to electronic medical records software. During my career at Indiana University I’ve had the chance to work with several big name companies, including Microsoft, eBay, and Intel, providing solutions to real design prompts from their design teams.

Professionally, I’ve spent time in a small design shop in Springfield, MO working on responsive web design projects and in Madison, WI working on healthcare software.

What I’m About
I love solving complex problems. There’s a kind of thrill in wading through the complexities of a design challenge, trying to find a simple, elegant solution. I want to do meaningful work. I don’t mean the cliche “I want to change the world” (though I believe design can be that powerful). I mean I want people to have an experience (thanks Dewey) that impacts their life in a lasting and meaningful way. I want to grow and learn from other professionals and never stop questioning.

So…What’s Next?
Great question. I don’t really know. I’m looking for my next complex problem, mentor, and push in the right direction. I have a propensity for throwing myself into something head first; a trial by fire I guess you could say. I always want to feel challenged and continue to learn as much as possible and I believe that pushing myself and sometimes failing along the way is a huge part of that.