John Beck
Founder, Principal
John has over 20 years of experience in design management, product and service development, interaction design and research, and brand strategy/marketing communications. His work has been covered in the New York Times, Wired magazine, and the Wall Street Journal among others.
John's skills as an interaction designer have led him to a number of award-winning, highly innovative projects. His experience working with wearable computing pioneer, BodyMedia, has provided him with valuable insight into creating effective home and self-care solutions involving lifestyle and behavioral change. John was a member of BodyMedia's award-winning design team.
As a design researcher, John has planned and led research projects involving usability as well as ethnographic research methods for a variety of mobile and medical products and services.
John acquired rigorous training in interaction design, design research, communication planning, graphic design, and brand strategy at both Carnegie Mellon University and Ohio University.
John serves as an occasional co-instructor and lecturer at Carnegie Mellon's School of Design.
Education MDES Interaction Design: Carnegie Mellon University, School of Design (2000)
What inspires me as a designer?
Airports, cities, and hospitals
Forests, gardens, and farms
The idea that design is a means to an end and not the end itself
The idea of the whole being more than the sum of its parts
A desire to never stop learning and accepting that there's ALWAYS more to know
Aristotle's idea that effective communicators must possess goodwill, common sense, and virtue in equal parts
The idea that confidence leads to trust, which ultimately leads to faith
My faith in a God who "designed" nature and mankind
The naive creativity of my children and their willingness to trust, explore, and find joy in everything from a cardboard box to a wooden spoon
