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Jonathan R. A. Maier
College of Engineering
College of Engineering
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
jmaier@andersonuniversity.edu
(864) 231-2045
College of Engineering Building
Academic Background
Dr. Maier is Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Anderson University. Previously, Dr. Maier taught at Clemson University in the General Engineering Program as a Senior Lecturer. Dr. Maier is a self-described “design guy” who loves teaching and researching design. Outside of academia, Dr. Maier is an ordained deacon and enjoys exploring the beauty and wonder of God’s incredible creation.
BS in Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
MS in Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University
Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University
Fast Facts
I’m excited for all the opportunities at AU to combine my faith with my teaching and research, and impact so many bright young people.
That engineering problem solving skills can be used in all areas of life.
I am known as the pioneer of the affordance based design approach. I published a book on this topic in 2011.
This is truly one of the most hospitable academic environments one could imagine.
Design Theory and Methodology, Affordance Base Design, Product Family Design, Complexity, Architectural Theory, History of Design
Books
- Maier, J.R.A. “Reflections on 20 years of Affordance Based Design” in Affordances in Everyday Life: A Multidisciplinary Collection of Essays. Zakaria Djebbara, ed. (2022).
- Maier, J.R.A. Affordance Based Design: Theoretical Foundations and Practical Applications, VDM Verlag, 2011.
- Co-editor with Drs. Lindeman, Fadel and Mr. Kreimeyer of the Proceedings of the 11th International DSM Conference, Greenville, October 2009.
- Chapter 6 “Understanding the Complexity of Design” in Complex Engineered Systems: Science meets Technology, Drs. Dan Braha, Ali Minai, Yaneer Bar-Yam, eds, pp 122-140, 2005.
- Maier, J.R.A. (2015) “On the Computability of Affordances as Relations”, Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing, 29(3).
- Maier, J.R.A., Mears, M. L., Summers, J. D. (2012) “Design of an Apparatus to Detect Small Changes in Mass of Rotational Machine Components”, International Journal of Modern Engineering, 13(2): 5-16.
- Maier, J.R.A., Troy, T., Johnston, J., Bobba, V., Summers, J.D. (2010) “Case Study Research Using Senior Design Projects: An Example Application”, Journal of Mechanical Design, 132(11). DOI 10.1114/1.4002291
- Maier, J.R.A., Fadel, G.M., (2009) “Affordance Based Design Methods for Innovative Design, Redesign and Reverse Engineering”, Research in Engineering Design, 30(4): 393-414
- Maier, J.R.A., Fadel, G.M., Battisto, D. (2009) “An Affordance Based Approach To Architectural Theory, Design And Practice” Design Studies. Vol. 30, pp 393-414
- Maier, J.R.A., Fadel, G.M., (2008) “Affordance Based Design: A Relational Theory for Design”, Research in Engineering Design, DOI 10.1007/s00163-008-0060-3
- Maier, J.A., Fadel, G.M., (2007) “A Taxonomy And Decision Support For The Design And Manufacture Of Types Of Product Families”, Special issue on product family design, Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Vol. 18, No. 1 pp 31-45
- Simpson, T.W., Maier, J.R.A., Mistree, F. (2001). “Product Platform Design: Method and Application,” Research in Engineering Design, 13(1): 2-22.
- Rowlinson, S.C., Maier, J.R.A., Stephan, E.A. (2017) “Work in Progress: Linking Clemson General Engineering and South Carolina High Schools” ASEE Annual Conference, Columbus OH, June 2017.
- Braha, D., Brown, D.C., Chakrabarti, A., Dong, A., Gadel, G.M., Maier, J.R.A., Seering, W., Ullman, D.G., and Wood, K. (2013) “DTM at 25: Essays on Themes and Future Directions” ASME IDETC/DTM, Paper No. DETC2013-12280.
- McLellan, J.M., Maier, J.R.A., Fadel, G.M., Mocko, G.M. (2009) “A Method For Identifying Requirements Critical To Mass Reduction Using DSMs And DMMs”, 11th DSM Conference, Greenville, SC.
- McLellan, J.M., Maier, J.R.A., Fadel, G.M., Mocko, G.M. (2009) “Generating Design Structure Matrices And Domain Mapping Matrices Using SYSML”, 11th DSM Conference, Greenville, SC.
- Thomas, J.T., Maier, J.R.A., Fadel, G.M., Mocko, G.M. (2009) “Using DMMs To Relate Design For Assembly Rules To Human Interaction Guidelines” 11th DSM Conference, Greenville, SC.
- Maier, J.R.A., Sachs, R., Fadel, G.M. (2009) “A Comparative Study Of Quantitative Scales To Populate Affordance Structure Matrices” ASME IDETC/DTM, Paper No. DETC2009-86524.
- Maier, J.R.A., McLellan, J.M., Mocko, G., Fadel, G.M. (2009) “Lightweight Engineering Of Military Vehicles Through Requirements Analysis And Function Integration” ASME-IDETC, Paper No. DETC2009-86562.
- Maier, J.R.A., Mocko, G., Fadel, G.M. (2009) “Hierarchical Affordance Modeling” ICED ‘09, Paper No. 314.
- Maier, J.R.A., Sandel, J., Fadel, G.M. (2009) “Experiments Comparing Function Structures To Affordance Structures” ICED ‘09, Paper No. 321.
- Maier, J.R.A., Sandel, J., Fadel, G.M. (2008) “Extending The Affordance Structure Matrix – Mapping Design Structure And Requirements To Behavior”, 10th DSM Conference, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Mocko, G., Fadel, G.M., Summers, J.D., Maier, J.R.A., Ezhilan, T. (2007) “A Systematic Method For Modeling And Analyzing Conceptual Design Information” 9th DSM Conference, Munich, Germany.
- Maier, J.R.A., Ezhilan, T., Fadel, G.M. (2007) “The Affordance Structure Matrix – A Concept Exploration And Attention Directing Tool For Affordance Based Design” ASME IDETC/DTM, DETC2007-34526, Las Vegas, NV.
- Mocko, G., Summers, J., Fadel, G.M., Teegavarapu, S., Maier, J.R.A., Ezhilan, T. (2007) “A Modelling Scheme For Capturing And Analyzing Multi-Domain Design Information: A Hair Dryer Design Example” ICED’07, Paris, France.
- Maier, J.R.A., Ezhilan, T., Fadel, G.M., Summers, J.D., Mocko, G. (2007) “A Hierarchical Requirements Modeling Scheme To Support Engineering Innovation” ICED’07, Paris, France.
- Maier, J.R.A., Fadel, G.M. (2007) “Identifying Affordances” ICED’07, Paris, France.
- Maier, J.R.A., Anandan, S., Bapat, V., Summers, J.D., Bettig B. (2007) “A Computational Framework for Semantically Rich Design Problems Based on the Theory of Affordance and Exemplar Technology” ICED’07, Paris France. Paper no. 510.
- Gaffney, E.S., Maier, J.R.A., Fadel, G.M. (2007) “Roles Of Function And Affordance In The Evolution Of Artifacts” ICED ’07, Paris, France.
- Motyka, M., Maier, J.R.A., Fadel, G.M., “Representing The Complexity Of Engineering Systems: A Multidisciplinary Perceptual Approach”, International Conference on Complex Systems, Boston, MA.
- Maier, J.R.A., Troy, T., Johnston, J., Bobba, V., Summers, J.D. (2006) “A Case Study Documenting Specific Configurations and Information Exchanges in Designer-Artifact-User Complex Systems” International Conference on Complex Systems, Boston, MA.
- Maier, J.R.A., Fadel, G.M. (2005) “A Case Study Contrasting German Systematic Engineering Design With Affordance Based Design” ASME DETC/DTM, Long Beach, CA. Paper No. DETC2005-84954.
- Maier, J.R.A., Fadel, G.M. (2004) “Understanding The Complexity Of Design” International Conference On Complex Systems, Boston, MA.
- Maier, J.R.A., Fadel, G.M. (2003) “On The Complexity Of The Design-Artifact-User System” Proceedings Of ICED 03, Stockholm, Sweden. Paper No. 1366.
- Maier, J.R.A., Fadel, G.M. (2003) “Affordance-Based Methods For Design” ASME DETC/DTM, Chicago. Paper No. DETC2003/DTM48673
- Maier, J. R.A., Fadel, G.M. (2002) “Comparing Function And Affordance As Bases For Design” ASME DETC/DTM, Montreal, Canada, Paper No. DETC2002/DTM-34129.
- Maier, J.R.A., Fadel, G.M. (2001) “Strategic Decisions In The Early Stages Of Product Family Design” ASME DETC, Pittsburgh, PA, Paper No. DETC01/DFM-21200.
- Maier, J.R.A., Fadel, G.M. (2001) “Affordance, The Fundamental Concept In Engineering Design” ASME DETC, Pittsburgh, PA, Paper No. DETC01/DTM-21700.
- Simpson, T.W., Maier, J.R.A., Mistree, F. (1999) “A Product Platform Concept Exploration Method For Product Family Design” ASME DETC/DTM, Las Vegas, NV, Paper No. DETC99/DTM-8761.
- Maier, J.R.A. “Rethinking Design Theory,” Mechanical Engineering, 130(9):34-37. September 2008, ASME.
- Maier, J.R.A. “How Structure Influences Behavior,” General Systems Bulletin, Volume 35. 2006, ISSS.
- Maier, J.R.A. (2006). “Design and Evolution: Morphogenesis and Metamorphosis”, Proceedings of the Design History Society Conference 2006, 31 August – 2 September 2006, TU Delft.
- Maier, J.R.A., Fadel, G.M. (2006) “Affordance Based Design: Status and Promise”. Proceedings of IDRS’06, Seoul, South Korea.
- Maier, J.R.A. (2000). “Systems Intelligence: Theory and Application,” International Society for the Systems Sciences 44th annual meeting, Toronto, Canada.