Juntae Jake Son, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Interior Design, LEED AP ID+C
Hello, I am an Assistant Professor in the Interior Design program at Ball State University. My research focuses on how nature’s survival strategies can be applied to solve human challenges. This knowledge is used to create new solutions for reducing energy consumption in both interior design and architectural environments.
Education
Course Taught at Ball State University
Graduate Assistants & Undergraduate Researchers
Current Project Overview
Biomimicry in the Built Environment – Occupants’ Experience in Virtual Environment with a Novel Biomimetic Window System: This research is a continual improvement project following my previous research, “Finding a Novel Biomimetic Solution and Its Impact on Building Energy Consumption,” funded by an Aspire New Faculty Start-Up award. That project demonstrated the effects of biomimicry ideas to save building energy. Biomimicry is a term appearing from bios (meaning life) and mimesis (meaning to imitate) and was popularized by scientist and author Janine Benyus in her 1997 book, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. Learn More
Enhancing Historic Building Performance and Sustainability at Maplewood (Immersive Learning Grant): This project addresses the critical issue of building energy efficiency within a historic property, the Maplewood guest house, which is currently managed by Ball Brothers Foundation. Ball Brothers Foundation has entrusted the operation of Maplewood to Ball State to provide housing for Indiana University School of Medicine students. This project is an immersive learning experience designed for third-year Interior Design students (Juniors) at Ball State University. The students will conduct a thorough building energy analysis of the Maplewood guest house during the Spring and Fall 2025 semester. Learn More
Integrating 3D Modeling and Interactive Lighting in Interior Design Education: The goal of this project is to provide Interior Design students with the opportunity to bring their drawings to a real life by creating detailed 3D architectural models using tools such as laser cutters, 3D printers, and Arduino. This hands-on approach allows students to better understand their lighting designs. By integrating LED lighting into these 3D-printed models, the project aims to overcome limitations of traditional lecture-based education, offering a more dynamic, practical, and innovative method for students to engage with lighting design concepts. This real-world application adopts both technical proficiency and creative problem-solving skills. Learn More
Virtual Reality as a Tool for Psychological Engagement in Remote Work: As more businesses increasingly connect with people around the world and collaborate remotely, this enables collaboration across geographical boundaries and diverse cultural backgrounds. However, it also reveals significant communication barriers. Differences in time zones, cultural misunderstandings, and varying levels of technological access can be obstacles to effective communication (Gajendran & Harrison, 2007). Therefore, solving these problems is important for improving collaborative team engagement, intercultural communication, and productivity. Learn More