Pleased to meet you!

Heya, I’m Jon, and I like movies, Red Vines, thrifting for vintage paper ephemera, and tackling design challenges with empathy and creativity.

I’m a freelance product and visual designer in Chicago, collaborating with small businesses and nonprofits while balancing user needs, business goals, and technical constraints.

I’ve made technology feel human through thoughtful branding, copywriting, and scalable design libraries for companies in B2B, B2C, Fintech, and health/wellness spaces.

The thread running through my 10+ year career is my love of crafting experiences—whether it’s frictionless onboarding for an app or a retail display for men’s fashion accessories.

Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn, follow me on Instagram, or email me and tell me your favorite movie.

My Design Process and Philosophy

My approach to design is combining making a living with having fun. These 3 pillars keep me curious and engaged as I create experiences that resonate with people. As mentioned previously, I want to design technology that feels human, feels real, and creates connections.

Archivist

Archivist

Being an archivist speaks to my love of research and exploration, whether that means creating a specific visual language or narrowing down how best to speak to a specific user.

I’m always mentally and physically filing away design inspiration: I love design history—you can usually find me scouring flea markets and junk shops looking for visual inspiration.

Creating with a reason for everything keeps me inspired, and doing deep research dives keeps me on track to create thoughtful experiences.

Imperfectionist

Imperfectionist

Being an Imperfectionist is how I realistically tackle a design project. I have a set level of pixel perfection, but I still recognize that my digital designs are living and evolving. Knowing that allows me to get my designs in front of my intended audience in a timely way so that I can improve them over time

I love brands with a distinct voice and an inspired visual presence, so I aim to create something with personality and a point of view.

I have always loved the handmade, whether it’s a design element influenced by someone’s hand or the off-register of halftone patterns in a comic. I want to know that whatever I put into the world feels intentionally designed, with personality, not thoughtless or bland.

“Make it Art”

“A Coke is a Coke, and no amount of money can get you a better Coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking.”
–Andy Warhol

By injecting a bit of art and playfulness, I am able to bring my own experiences, point of view, and humor. I’ve always tried to follow Charles and Ray Eames’ idea that design is for everyone: I want my designs, when called for, to combine playfulness, usefulness, and accessibility.

I aim to create authentic designs grounded in logic and research that resonate with the intended audience.

“Make it Art”