In art school, I studied architecture, and the analytical nature of the architecture education affected my creative process and laid the foundation of how I approach design. No decision is made in a vacuum. The medium and the messaging are always intertwined. At RISD, I explored all disciplines and taught myself all the design software. In between making models, I started a skateboard company that sold products worldwide. Before I graduated, I stumbled into teaching and was teaching college courses myself which led to years of teaching design.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”custom” background_image_height=”90%” background_position=”center_right” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
By the end of my college career, I knew the architecture field wasn’t for me. A few friends and I moved to Philadelphia and founded SPACE1026<\/a> an art studio and gallery. SPACE1026 became a meeting ground of emerging art, skateboarding, and design and we showcased the work of many artists early in their careers. I started work as a production graphic designer in ad agencies and taught myself web design along the way. I worked as a temp designer and with each assignment, I started creating a mental catalog of efficiencies, creative process, and best practices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/johnfreeborn.com\/2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/space1026.jpg” title_text=”space1026″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/johnfreeborn.com\/2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/philly-with-love-XOXO-e1688518276126.jpg” alt=”With Love, Philadelphia XOXO logo” title_text=”philly-with-love-XOXO” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Philadelphia was a great place to grow and I worked with a lot of talented people who helped me develop my skills. I was very lucky to land at Visit Philly as a web designer and quickly became the creative director, creating marketing in all media at a scale that I hadn’t dreamed of previously. This was my first opportunity to lead a team and I quickly realized the impact of design leadership. That team is still connected to this day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n My California adventure started in San Diego in what I call, “my thirteen-year-old dream job” at Black Box Distribution. I managed everything digital for several skateboard brands and started to flex my digital muscles expanding into e-commerce, social, and content. NorCal called and I jumped deeper into e-commerce, product design, and started to explore A\/B testing, personalization, and optimization.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/johnfreeborn.com\/2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/DelMar.jpg” alt=”Ocean view from Del Mar, California” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”70%” module_alignment=”right” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Over the years, I’ve bounced back and forth between manager roles and individual contributor roles. In my most recent role at Apple, I was an individual contributor working on global projects with a level of scale in the billions. The work itself was complex and required a system-level thinking that I enjoyed but I missed working with a team, managing and mentoring young designers and started to look for ways to get back to managing. I taught a class at CCA in the graduate interaction program and it felt good to be back in a classroom working alongside the students. Currently, I’m the Executive Creative Director at Zions Bancorporation where I’m building a team will support HQ and their many banks accross the Western US.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ background_color=”#f7f7f7″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header subhead=”What else goes on?” text_orientation=”center” content_max_width=”none” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ background_color=”rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)” background_layout=”light” global_colors_info=”{}” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_blurb title=”Contact” url=”https:\/\/johnfreeborn.com\/2023\/contact\/” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#2ea3f2″ image_icon_background_color=”#ffffff” image_icon_width=”48px” font_icon_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” image_icon_custom_padding=”25px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” text_orientation=”center” link_option_url=”https:\/\/johnfreeborn.com\/2023\/contact\/” hover_enabled=”0″ border_radii_image=”on|100%|100%|100%|100%” border_width_all_image=”3px” border_color_all_image=”#f7f7f7″ image_max_width=”none” use_circle=”on” use_circle_border=”on” circle_border_color=”#f7f7f7″ circle_color=”#ffffff” global_colors_info=”{}” image_icon_background_color__sticky_enabled=”#7EBEC5″ image_icon_background_color__sticky=”#7EBEC5″ font_icon__hover_enabled=”off|desktop” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n I’m always open to interesting conversations, collaboration, crazy ideas, and good questions. If you’d like to chat, the best way to get my attention is over here<\/a>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_blurb title=”Resume” url=”https:\/\/johnfreeborn.com\/2023\/resume\/” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”i||divi||400″ icon_color=”#2ea3f2″ image_icon_background_color=”#ffffff” image_icon_width=”48px” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” image_icon_custom_padding=”25px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” text_orientation=”center” link_option_url=”https:\/\/johnfreeborn.com\/2023\/resume\/” border_radii_image=”on|100%|100%|100%|100%” border_width_all_image=”3px” border_color_all_image=”#f7f7f7″ image_max_width=”none” use_circle=”on” use_circle_border=”on” circle_border_color=”#f7f7f7″ circle_color=”#ffffff” global_colors_info=”{}” image_icon_background_color__sticky_enabled=”#7EBEC5″ image_icon_background_color__sticky=”#7EBEC5″]<\/p>\n If you want the tidy, simple resume<\/a> version of my history I’ve got that for you. There’s also my LinkedIn<\/a> if you want my whole history in excruciating detail.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_blurb title=”Words” url=”https:\/\/johnfreeborn.com\/words\/” url_new_window=”on” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#2ea3f2″ image_icon_background_color=”#ffffff” image_icon_width=”48px” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” image_icon_custom_padding=”25px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” text_orientation=”center” link_option_url=”https:\/\/johnfreeborn.com\/words\/” link_option_url_new_window=”on” border_radii_image=”on|100%|100%|100%|100%” border_width_all_image=”3px” border_color_all_image=”#f7f7f7″ image_max_width=”none” use_circle=”on” use_circle_border=”on” circle_border_color=”#f7f7f7″ circle_color=”#ffffff” global_colors_info=”{}” image_icon_background_color__sticky_enabled=”#7EBEC5″ image_icon_background_color__sticky=”#7EBEC5″]<\/p>\n