Jon Freach

Jon Freach is an Associate Professor of Practice in the School of Design and Creative Technologies at The University of Texas at Austin, co-leading the Undergraduate Curriculum. He also serves as Head of Undergraduate Programs and is affiliated with the Center for Integrated Design.

Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from SUNY Fredonia (1990), Certificate in User-Centered Design from UCLA (2005).

Research focuses on civic design, urban systems, and human-centered solutions for healthcare, transit, and municipal services. His work emphasizes design thinking in public sector innovation, including projects with Bloomberg Philanthropies in cities like Lincoln, Durham, Tulsa, and New Orleans.

Publications span design methodologies and civic innovation, appearing in Fast Company, The Atlantic, and Interactions Magazine. His patented innovations include wayfinding systems and GUI frameworks.

• Awards: Two SEGD Honor Awards for wayfinding and transit design projects

Advising/Grants: Collaborates with global cities via Bloomberg-Harvard programs. Previously led design research at frog, a global design agency (2008-2018). Founded Austin Center for Design.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Center for Integrated Design, blending design, technology, and policy for urban challenges.