DESCRIBING: An image of a horizontal painting, showing two men sitting on a bench. DESCRIPTION: Two men are seated on a bench. The one on the viewer's right is obscured by the unfolded newspaper he is reading and holding front of him, blocking a view of his face and torso. The other, on the viewer's left, is writing notes. He is looking down at his notebook as he writes, and a crow, perched on the bench nearby, also looks down at what he is doing. A second crow, on the bench seat between the men, looks up and appears to be squawking. A yellow cloth floats mid-air behind them. IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The painting portrays a mysterious scene against a dreamy backdrop. On the viewer's left, a man dressed in a light blue shirt and gray vest smiles while writing in a small notepad. He is surrounded by two black birds, one perched on the bench's backrest and the other near his left side, standing on a black satchel. Next to him, another man, partially concealed by a large open newspaper, wears a black jacket and jeans with white sneakers. A floating yellow piece of fabric between them adds a whimsical element to the piece, drifting in the cloudy sky.

Brett Oppegaard, Ph.D., UX Researcher, Program Director, Portfolio Manager

Dr. Brett Oppegaard is an accomplished UX/UI research leader and program director/manager with more than 15 years of high-level experience working in emerging technologies, including a well-developed background in media accessibility, user-centered design (UCD), human-computer interaction (HCI), locative media, and journalism.

He has proven expertise in leading cross-functional teams, developing research methodologies, and executing multimodal UX strategies to enhance digital media experiences. Adept at stakeholder engagement, ambiguity management, and fostering inclusive design, he has been recognized by many organizations for advancing research in multiple fields — such as media accessibility, Generative AI, locative media, journalism, and augmented reality — while securing major federal and corporate grants, and mentoring next-generation UX professionals.

In his practice, Dr. Oppegaard typically uses inductive reasoning to deeply study the ways in which representative stakeholders act when engaged in specific activities in particular media ecosystems. His data collection strategies often get designed within specific physical environments and with particular support systems in place, allowing him to make full sense of the research objectives through the theoretical lens of Activity Theory. His findings and strategic recommendations regularly lead to impactful recommendations that improve the economics of a system, by creating new efficiencies, but also by amplify the effectiveness of users engaged in activities in those systems. He also loves to do public good, as recognized by multiple community awards noting his benevolence. Dozens of examples of his work are below.

As a former journalist and arts critic, with a love for Sherlock Holmes stories, Dr. Oppegaard appreciates the tiniest of details in a person’s narrative that can lead to profound deductions, deeper understandings, and competitive advantages. This thoughtful approach has given him a knack for finding the clues and universal strains of motivation and engagement that exist in a user, leading to innovative designs and research findings based on that analysis.

He uses — and has taught at the university level — mixed-methods approaches that blend qualitative and quantitative research methods via a reliable triangulation strategy that seeks to establish multiple sources of independent data to confirm any single research assertion. His favorite method is the one that works the best. That means he takes great care to make careful research plans that produce solid and clear recommendations, and when he gives one, you can count on it.

More details about Dr. Oppegaard’s background and portfolio examples below:

DESCRIBING: An image of a horizontal painting, showing two men sitting on a bench. DESCRIPTION: Two men are seated on a bench. The one on the viewer's right is obscured by the unfolded newspaper he is reading and holding front of him, blocking a view of his face and torso. The other, on the viewer's left, is writing notes. He is looking down at his notebook as he writes, and a crow, perched on the bench nearby, also looks down at what he is doing. A second crow, on the bench seat between the men, looks up and appears to be squawking. A yellow cloth floats mid-air behind them. IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The painting portrays a mysterious scene against a dreamy backdrop. On the viewer's left, a man dressed in a light blue shirt and gray vest smiles while writing in a small notepad. He is surrounded by two black birds, one perched on the bench's backrest and the other near his left side, standing on a black satchel. Next to him, another man, partially concealed by a large open newspaper, wears a black jacket and jeans with white sneakers. A floating yellow piece of fabric between them adds a whimsical element to the piece, drifting in the cloudy sky.

Oil painting by Anne John showing Brett Oppegaard.

DESCRIBING: A horizontal color photograph. DESCRIPTION: The photograph shows Brett Oppegaard speaking to a group of young adults in an outdoor setting. The speaker stands against a stone wall, while the group sits or stands around him, listening intently. Plants frame the foreground. IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The image features a man in a navy jacket and light blue shirt, who is speaking passionately to an audience of listeners. The speaker’s hands are animated, suggesting he is emphasizing a point. Around him, a group of young adults listens attentively. The individuals in the audience display various postures: some are seated on low walls, while others stand or sit cross-legged on the ground. The background consists of tall, concrete slabs, which impart an urban or institutional atmosphere. Foreground foliage introduces a natural element to the scene.

Brett Oppegaard leading a cross-functional team gathering important information from stakeholders on-site.

Education and Academic Appointments

Education

  • Ph.D. in Technical Communication and Rhetoric, Texas Tech University
  • Master of Arts in Communication, University of Portland
  • Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Washington State University
  • Bachelor of Arts in Art, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa

Academic Appointments

    • Promoted to Full and Tenured Professor, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, U.S.
    • Tenure-Track Appointment as Assistant Professor, Washington State University, Vancouver/Pullman, WA, U.S.
    • Adjunct Lecturer, University of Portland, Portland, OR, U.S.
    • Adjunct Lecturer, Clark College, Vancouver, WA, U.S.

Research and Creative Activity

Research Projects (Current)

Case Studies

Brett Oppegaard conducting user research at a U.S. National Park Service site.

Research Findings In-Demand Globally

Dr. Brett Oppegaard has been invited to share his research results around the world, including at peer-reviewed venues throughout the United States as well as in formal presentations in Canada, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Kenya, Spain, and Norway.

Professional Associations

LinkedIn Profile
ResearchGate Profile
Academia.edu Profile
ORCID Profile

Invited Reviewer for:

    • British Journal of Visual Impairment
    • Communication Design Quarterly
    • Computers in Human Behavior
    • Convergence
    • The Design Journal
    • Digital Humanities Quarterly
    • Digital Journalism
    • Human Geography
    • International Journal of Learning Technology
    • Journal of Communication Technology
    • Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly
    • Journalism Practice
    • Journalism Studies
    • Mobile Media and Communication
    • New Media and Society
    • Perspectives
    • Research Ethics
    • Technical Communication
    • 40+ Research Publications
    • Communication Design Quarterly
    • Digital Humanities Quarterly
    • Digital Journalism
    • Federal History Journal
    • IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
    • International Journal of Learning Technology
    • Journal of Teaching and Learning with Technology
    • Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
    • Journal of the International Digital Media and Arts Association
    • Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness
    • Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly
    • Journalism Practice
    • Media and Communication
    • Mobile Media and Communication
    • Perspectives
    • Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal
    • Social Media + Society
    • STC Intercom
    • Technical Communication
    • Technical Communication Quarterly
    • Regional, National, International Awards for Research and Creative Activity
    • AccessAbility Award – Helen Keller Services
    • Community Service Award – ThinkTech Hawai‘i
    • Feature Award — American Association of Sunday and Features Editors
    • John Wesley Powell Prize – Society for History in the Federal Government
    • MUSE Award – The American Alliance of Museums
    • Margaret Pfanstiehl Audio Description Achievement Award in R&D – American Council of the Blind
    • Projects of Influence Award – The Best of Heritage, ICOM, and Europa Nostra
    • Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism Awards in: Column Writing (Overall), Column Writing (Features), Personalities, Health, General Column, Arts Coverage, Short Features, Investigative Reporting, Sports Writing.
    • State Historic Preservation Officer’s Award – WA Dept. of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
    • Research Projects (Archived)
    • Sound Rangers App (2018) Android / iOS (Earned Federal Grant Support)
    • Fort Vancouver Mobile App (2011 – 2017) Android / iOS (Multi-Award Winning Project; (Earned Federal and Corporate Grant Support)
    • NPS Geysers at Yellowstone App (2015) Android / iOS (Earned Federal Grant Support)
    • ’64 Flood App (2014) Android / iOS (Earned Regional Grant Support)
    • Grand Emporium of the West App (2013) Android / iOS (Earned Federal Grant Support)
    • Media Production Samples
    • Academic Writing (2011 – Present)
    • Journalistic Writing (1995 – 2011)
    • Portrait Photography (i.e., American Council of the Blind members)
    • Photo Essays (i.e, Manoa Chinese Cemetery — Qingming)

50+ Research Presentations

Invited Keynotes:

  • American Council of the Blind Convention, Omaha, NE, U.S.
  • Best in Heritage: Projects of Influence, Dubrovnik, Croatia.
  • Google’s Machine Learning for Accessibility Workshop, San Francisco, CA, U.S.
  • Helen Keller National Center National Community of Practice Workshop, Sands Point, NY, U.S.
  • International Conference on Information Systems & Computer Science, Quito, Ecuador.
  • Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity, Honolulu, HI, U.S.
  • Smithsonian Accessibility Network, Washington, D.C., U.S.
  • Volda University College Campus Lecture Series, Volda, Norway.
  • University of Bergen TekLab Speaker Series, Bergen, Norway.

Conference Presentations:

  • Advanced Research Seminar on Audio Description (ARSAD), Barcelona, Spain.
  • American Association of Geographers, Honolulu, HI, U.S.
  • Association of Internet Researchers Conference (AoIR), Tartu, Estonia.
  • Association of University Centers on Disabilities Conference (AUCD), Washington, D.C, U.S.
  • Association for Computer Machinery Special Interest Group on Design of Communication (SIGDOC), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
  • Association for Computer Machinery Special Interest Group on Design of Communication (SIGDOC), Limerick, Ireland.
  • Association for Computer Machinery Special Interest Group on Design of Communication (SIGDOC), Silver Spring, MD, U.S.
  • Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference (AEJMC), Montreal, Canada.
  • Conference on College Composition and Communication, Houston, TX.
  • Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC), Kansas City, MO, U.S.
  • Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC), Portland, OR, U.S.
  • Conference on College Composition and Communication, St. Louis, MO, U.S.
  • IEEE ProComm, Limerick, Ireland.
  • East and West Philosophers’ Conference, Honolulu, HI, U.S.
  • Global Vision Summit: Media Literacy, Honolulu, HI.
  • Hawai‘i International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS), Wailea, HI, U.S.
  • International Association for Media and Communication Research, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • International Communication Association Conference (ICA), Paris, France.
  • International Communication Association, Prague, Czech Republic.
  • International Communication Association, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
  • International Communication Association Conference (ICA), San Diego, CA.
  • International Communication Association Conference (ICA), Washington, D.C, U.S.
  • International Conference on Interactivity, Language & Cognition, Honolulu, HI, United States.
  • International Conference on Technology, Knowledge, and Society, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
  • International Design and Media Arts Association (IDMAA), Savannah, GA, U.S.
  • Learning Technology for Education in the Cloud Conference (LTEC), Hagen, Germany.
  • Museums Association Conference (HAC), Honolulu, HI.
  • Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity, Honolulu, HI, U.S.
  • Partnership for Progress on the Digital Divide International Conference (PPDD), Washington, D.C., U.S.
  • Visual Communication Conference, Canon Beach, OR, U.S.

Professional Certifications

  • Google — Project Management
  • ACUE — Effective College Instruction
  • The Poynter Institute — Mobile-First News Gathering
  • Assessment Leadership Institute — Assessment Leadership
  • The Poynter Institute — Writing Narratives on Deadline
  • The National Endowment for the Arts — Arts Journalism Institute Fellowship

Funders of Dr. Oppegaard’s Research and Creative Activity

  • U.S. National Park Service
  • U.S. National Endowment for the Humanities
  • U.S. National Endowment for the Arts
  • Google
  • The Cooke Foundation
  • The Miami Foundation (via Press Forward)
  • Vision Maker Media
  • Humanities Montana
  • Malama Manoa

(Full CV Available Upon Request)