I am Daniel Opoku, originally from Ghana. I migrated to the United States to pursue the dreams of my father, who desired me to be a different Visual Artist. Before high school, I had not considered higher education in Art because of the stereotypes attached to students who pursue careers in Visual Art. There is a general misconception about artists; they are not scholars. And I did not wish that for myself. I dreamt of wearing a similar white lab coat like my father, who was then the director of a blood bank at Okomfo Anokye teaching hospital, Ghana, who also served as a pathologist assistant at the same hospital.
When it was about time to choose an academic area of focus, his counseling which was a bitter pill to swallow turned to be the right advise. He advised that science is mathematics, and I had never scored an A or a B throughout my Junior high school education. "...but you love to draw" he says. “All your teachers acknowledge that” He explained to me how I was unhappy anytime he takes me to visit the hospital. Yes, I often fall sick the next day. Although I was a tipped-up student by society to study science, I diverted to pursue my happiness – Art.
Growing up, we did not have a computer at home, primarily because an individual could not afford one at that time, and the internet was a mystery. My dad had a new old typewriter. Instead of Zoom or Skype meetings, he had his distance education through the mailbox, towards his diploma from a University in England. He receives his course books and assignments through the mail and submits his reading responses the same way. It took him years to complete the course, which should have taken less than a year in our present time. I think.
In the evening, when he is back from work, and there is an industrial loom’s noise in the house, that is my dad weaving his reading response or typing personal letters to his professors from his screaming analog typewriter. His typewriter was complex, and I had no interest in it. When you commit a typographic error, you have to start again with a new clean sheet!…and found it annoying. He says before you type, you should complete at least a sentence in your mind, and hold on to a thought until you have fully and carefully typed it. Nonsense?
When computers became popular, he bought me the Acer brand and enrolled me in computer classes. The goal was that, I will return to teach him how to use it. I was 15 years old, and I do not remember if I was the one who killed his interest in computers. I installed Encyclopedia Britannica to do pretentious research when he is at home, so he would not kill my obsession, in his quest to navigate the digital space. Funny enough, Mavis Beacon teaches typing was kicking the old man’s ass! However, the computer keyboard had the same QWERT arrangement as his typewriter. He could type very fast on his typewriter but struggles on the computer keyboard. I still do not know why. Maybe he could not relate well to the cathode rays beaming out from the digital screen. He never became better on the computer, and I did not like his noisy analog typewriter too. When he is away, it was all about the games and Microsoft paint.
Today, I am dinosaur years old, and there have been some changes in my obsession with the computer as the computer itself. The Encyclopedia Britannica has become the web servers I am constantly digging in for new information. Microsoft paint has become my Adobe Suite, and computer games inspired my interest in software development.
Currently, I am working towards a Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design at Ohio University. To fully understand the reasons for my poor performance in what is broadly accepted as mathematics, my MFA thesis is exploring the native Ghanaian cultural mathematics in the context of Ethnomathematics. However, my practice in Graphic Design resides in the tension between digital product design and user experience design, as I reflect on my teen obsession for digital spaces. I combine function and aesthetics with end-users anticipation in addressing social needs. Through mind mapping, interviews, and user feedback, I strive to develop physical solutions from abstract concepts that serve as tools for community empowerment.
By the principles of field ethnography, I excavate historical data and pair it with current statistics, extract development from systematic challenges to clearly define a social problem. I, therefore, iterate on accessible design solutions through collaborative analysis with community members to visualize equitable design solutions that empowers marginalized communities. This user-centered approach in design and design policy-making is what I termed as Accessible Design Solutions.
I hold a BA. Communication Design, Software Development Certificate, and Visual Arts Management Certificate from KNUST-Ghana and Ohio University respectively.
I am seeing that the speedy decentralization of data and the democratization of Artificial Intelligence will continue to birth new paths, and titles in the design practice. Therefore, all designers must rise to stay relevant. As a UX/UI design researcher, I am constantly looking for ways to challenge my skillsets.
Education
Master of Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Ohio University, 2022
Thesis: Identimatics; Mathematical Grammar of Kente Patterns
Bachelor of Arts, Communication Design, (Multimedia) KNUST, 2016
Thesis: Managing Access to Students' Residential Facilities
Certifications
UX Certification, University of California, Berkeley, 2024
UX, UI Certification, School of UX Design, London, 2022
Visual Arts Management, Ohio University, 2021
Professional Experience
Visual Multimedia Designer
Varian Medical Systems | Palo Alto, CA April 2022 – Present
• Led the UX design and content management for the Radiation Oncology Business Area intranet, resulting in a 30% increase in user engagement and improved navigation efficiency.
• Delivered visual design support for 5+ business units, enhancing cross-departmental communication and consistency in branding.
• Directed and produced 20+ leadership communication videos, increasing viewer engagement by 50% among internal and external audiences.
• Collaborated on marketing materials for 3 major internal and external events, contributing to a 20% increase in participant attendance.
Lead User Experience Designer
Athens Copwatch | Athens, OH August 2020 - January 2022
• Facilitated weekly meetings with community members to refine user stories, improving user satisfaction scores by 20% through targeted design iterations.
• Delivered high-quality design assets, including 30+ sketches, sitemaps, user flows, wireframes, and mockups, streamlining the design process and reducing turnaround time by 15%.
• Developed 5 interactive prototypes for usability studies and conducted on-site research, resulting in actionable insights that improved app effectiveness by 30%.
Graphic Communications Designer
Ohio University | Athens, OH January 2020 – April 2022
• Partnered with marketing and PR teams to produce over 50 creative assets for print and digital platforms, leading to a 15% increase in social media engagement.
• Designed branded souvenirs that contributed to a 25% increase in funds raised during the School of Music's alumni fundraising initiatives.
• Revamped recruitment materials, aligning with Ohio University’s updated brand guidelines and improving application rates by 10%.
• Contributed to brainstorming sessions that developed and implemented 3 innovative student retention strategies, improving retention rates by 5%.
Communication Designer
Cohear | Cincinnati, OH June 2021 - January 2022
• Created engaging visual content for 20+ social media and email campaigns, achieving a 40% increase in audience engagement and interactions.
• Collaborated on and designed research reports for policymakers in Ohio, resulting in initiatives that improved community outreach.
• Conducted impactful design research on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, contributing to a 236% increase in vaccination rates in Columbus, OH.
Graphic Design Intern
Active | Kumasi, GH June 2013– December 2013
• Worked with senior designers and other team members on design projects, assets, and deadlines.
• Researched design trends and best practices.
• Assisted in designing marketing plans and design concepts for events, campaigns, and promotions.
• Prepared files for print production.
Skills
Research
Contextual Inquiry, Competitive Analysis, Persona, Journey Mapping, Responsive Design
Collaboration
Design Critique, Prototyping, Flow Analysis, Detail-Orientation, Communicative, Strategy and Vision Presentation
Design
Style Guide, Storyboard, Information Design/Architecture, Gestalt Principles, Visual Design, Motion Design
Tools
Adobe Creative Suite, Cinema 4D, Figma, XD, Webflow, Powerpoint, Balsamiq, Miro, Maze
Honors and Awards
Student Enhancement Grant, $6000 | Ohio University, Athens OH, 2022
The Billman Award, $2500 | Ohio University, Athens OH, 2021,
Adobe EDU Design Achievement Award | California, 2019
Verified International Academic Qualifications, WES | New York, 2019
Graduate Recruitment Scholarship | Ohio University, 2019
Solo Exhibitions
Identimatics, Porter Hall, Pittsburg State University, Kansas, 2024
Global Arts Festival, Alden Library, Ohio University, Ohio, 2022
Identimatics, Ohio University Art Gallery, Ohio, 2022
Group Exhibitions
Storytime, Majestic Galleries, Nelsonville, Ohio, 2023
Legacy: Don Adleta and Karen Nulf, 60 years of Graphic Design, Kennedy Museum of Art, Ohio University, 2021
Silver Lining, The Ohio University Art Gallery, Athens, Ohio, 2020
Precipice, Trisolini Gallery, Athens, Ohio, 2020
Open Studios, Ohio University School of Art + Design, Seigfred Hall, 2019
Open Studios, Ohio University School of Art + Design, Seigfred Hall, 2020
Publications
Identimatics; Mathematical Grammar of Kente Patterns, Lulu Press, 2022
Studies Interpreting the Feminine Form, Don Adleta, Lulu Press, 2021
Studies Interpreting the Masculine Form, Don Adleta, Lulu Press, 2021
Managing Access to Students Residential Facilities, KNUST Press, 2016
Research Assistantships
Assistant Design Researcher: Focus Visual Translation and Seeing Harmony, Don Adleta and Tricia Hennessey, Ohio University Press, 2024
Lead Design Researcher: Black Home Ownership in Columbus: Opportunities for Wealth Creation, Cohear, 2021·
Lead Design Researcher: Leading Change: The Cincinnati Art Museum as a Catalyst for Reconciliation and Inclusion, Cohear, 2021·
Lead Design Researcher: The Greater Cincinnati Foundation: Racial Equity and Economic Mobility, Cohear, 2021
Lead Design Researcher: 15 Years of Achievements: Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Osei Akoto, 2015
Volunteer
Media Lead, Nsesa Foundation, Suacode.ai Kumasi, Ghana, 2021
Graphic Designer, Ohio University, Center for International Studies, Ohio, 2020
Curatorial Team, As Not For: Dethroning Our Absolutes, Ohio University Art Galleries, 2020
Multimedia Content Producer, CoolxDad - Texas, 2021
Graphic Designer, Mother of Mothers, Manhyia Palace, Kumasi, Ghana, 2015