Nicholas Paredes

Nicholas Paredes is an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Design (ID) at Illinois Institute of Technology, where he teaches 'Introduction to Design Practice.' He concurrently serves as Executive Director, User Experience at JPMorgan Chase & Co., leading design integration into product development. Previously, he was a Visiting Professor at CEDIM (2017–2020) and a lecturer at the University of Chicago (2017–2018). His career spans over 30 years as an independent designer, entrepreneur, and strategist.

Education:

• Master of Design, Northwestern University
• Undergraduate studies at the Basel School of Design and the Institute of Design (ID)

Research & Expertise: Focuses on human-centered design methodologies, design thinking, and futures studies using STEEP (Social, Technological, Economic, Environmental, Political) frameworks. His work bridges design with business strategy and technology, emphasizing ethical and socially impactful solutions.

Labs/Teams: Leads +human, a human-centered design consultancy. Previously founded Simple Interface (1995–2005) and Modoku (2009–2012), and consulted for Grainger, Walgreens, BMW, and others. Active in mentorship via Design for America (2016–2020).

Awards: Recognized for award-winning design work, including the Webby Award for Walgreens’ mobile apps. His contributions highlight design’s role in healthcare (e.g., Feinberg School of Medicine projects) and technology innovation.