Orsborn has a keen interest in the relationship between mechanical and aesthetic design in product development that developed from a diverse background in mechanics and the arts. He has worked for, and consulted with, a variety of companies regarding new product development and the impact of aesthetic design. Orsborn teaches engineering design and product development at Missouri S&T and is a practicing freelance graphic artist. He also directs the Qualitative Design Research Group at Missouri S&T, which focuses on the boundary between engineering design and industrial design in the product design process.