Employee Spotlight: Andrew Dakin

APH has many employees who work behind the scenes every day to make a difference, and we want to take the time to spotlight some of those wonderful employees. Andrew Dakin works in the Model Shop as a Model Maker. The Model Shop creates the molds, patterns, and prototypes for APH products with tactile graphics. 

Andrew received his Bachelor in Fine Arts (BFA) in Sculpting from Murray State before moving to Cincinnati to work as a sculptor in the toy industry. He continued to work in different jobs that were on the more artistic side, so he was excited to see a job opening in APH’s Model Shop in 2010. Thinking that it was right up his alley, he applied – and sure enough he got the job!   

Andrew’s background in sculpting is an asset to the Model Shop as they are focused on making tactile graphics APH develops. Beyond working with tactile graphics, Andrew is able to dip his toes into a few other projects from time to time, including helping to create prototypes for new products, such as a giant, functional, abacus for the Abacus Bee. Andrew says there can be a challenge in doing something different, but it also lets him mind in a way that is rewarding. When going to pick up the abacus from APH’s annual meeting, Andrew ran into two people who were blind or low vision interacting with it. “I got to run into two people who really appreciated something I worked on,” Dakin said. “Which was really cool.”  

Andrew loves what he does, but he also loves who he does it with. As a department, he and his coworkers get to work collaboratively to make different product prototypes and models. “There are a lot of good people at APH, and I enjoy working with everybody,” Dakin explains. Helping students who are blind or low vision provides a purpose to his work in the Model Shop that Andrew appreciates, and it is the reason he has stayed at APH for well over ten years now. 

Outside of his department, Andrew enjoys working with the different product managers. “The product managers come to us with a core idea, and we give them different options and samples. After that, we can usually see what direction they want to go in and narrow it down from there,” Dakin explains. Andrew also cares deeply about APH’s mission as he plays his own part in the development of products that will directly benefit students across the nation. “APH is helping students, and I love that I get to be a part of that.” Overall, Andrew is grateful for the opportunity to continue his creative pursuits working toward something he believes in. “I have found a place at APH where I can be creative productively,” he explains. Outside of work, Andrew enjoys spending time with his family. He has two school-aged children who keep life exciting and help Andrew keep a more optimistic view of the world. He also enjoys pursuing leisurely artistic projects as well as working on cars. Andrew is a great asset to the APH workforce–we are lucky to have someone as dedicated as him!