I’m a strategic communication and systems-oriented designer with two decades of experience helping scientific, technical, sustainability, and mission-driven organizations translate complex ideas into clear, credible communication.
My work spans digital communication systems, websites, information design, presentations, technical storytelling, brand evolution, and scalable design systems. I work closely with researchers, engineers, marketers, leadership teams, and stakeholders to align communication with organizational goals while improving clarity, usability, and audience understanding.
After nearly a decade supporting communications and design initiatives at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), I now work as an embedded strategic design partner helping organizations modernize communication systems, evolve digital experiences, and scale content more effectively across web, print, presentation, and motion platforms.
I combine deep experience in visual communication with modern workflows including Figma systems, AI-assisted ideation, responsive UX/UI, Webflow, and scalable content architecture. I view AI as a powerful accelerator for exploration and efficiency, while believing that authentic scientific and technical communication still depends on human judgment, context, trust, and strategic alignment.
I help teams define audience, intent, priorities, and communication outcomes early in the process so design decisions are more aligned, effective, and easier to execute. The result is clearer communication, stronger stakeholder alignment, and fewer costly revision cycles later on.
"Working with John is a true collaboration—his creativity, insight, and dedication make every project feel inspired and deeply connected. Our work together pushes boundaries and brings ideas to life in ways I couldn’t achieve alone."
–Spring Hericks, NREL