Drew Johnson, Lead Designer of Emerging Technologies in Kohler, WI

About

Education

BFA Industrial Design

Cleveland Institute of Art

2002 - 2007

I was fortunate to be apart of the Industrial Design program at the Cleveland Institute of Art which consistently ranks as one of the top programs in the country. CIA is well known for producing graduates who work at the top of their field, solving real-world problems and becoming successful entrepreneurs and leaders. It’s a rigorous curriculum that centers on research, conceptualization, and refinement. This approach provided me with a strong understanding of the innovation process, users, market forces, manufacturing, sustainability, and business practices. I develop skills in visual communication, form development, presentation, and as well as a good knowledge of manufacturing, ergonomics, and marketing. The best part of CIA curriculum is that you need to take a full 2 years of foundation art classes before you ever set foot into the Industrial Design Program, for me those classes always will be the foundation of my talents.

Experience

Lead Designer of Emerging Technologies

Mercury/Brunswick Marine

Fond du Lac, WI

Jul 2021 - Present (3 years 11 months)
Freelance Industrial Designer and Graphic Designer

Work Horse Design

Grand Rapids, MI

Nov 2007 - Present (17 years 7 months)

PRODUCT DESIGN :: Problem Solving, Product Development, Consumer Research, Concept Development, Exceptional Photoshop Rendering Abilities, to Creating Visual Brand Language, Branding, Storyboarding

GRAPHIC DESIGN :: Logo Development, Commissioned Artwork, Illustrations, Apparel Design, Branding, to Creating Stand Out Presentations

Message me for availability.
Lead Industrial Designer

Kohler

Kohler, WI

Jul 2015 - Jul 2021 (6 years)
Contract Industrial Designer

Nottingham and Spirtk

Cleveland, OH

Jan 2015 - Apr 2015 (3 months)
Category Design Lead

Bissell Homecare

Grand Rapids, MI

Apr 2012 - Sep 2014 (2 years 5 months)

As Lead Designer I helped revitalized BISSELL’s complete design strategy and how they go about creating products that will compete in one of the world's most competitive segments the floor care category. My small team and I brought life to a stagnant Visual Brand Language through an endless onset of ideas, sketching, and Photoshop renderings centering on the consumers needs and desires. It’s always about the end user. In addition to these efforts with the help of one of the best engineering and marketing teams I have had the pleasure to ever work with we were able to push product development beyond the limits that even upper management could ever envision.
Industrial Designer

Hasbro / Nerf and Super Soaker

Pawtucket, RI

Nov 2007 - Apr 2012 (4 years 5 months)

Nerf and Super Soaker had tremendous growth during my tenure here. We went from being one of the smallest brands under the Hasbro umbrella to being the largest and a household name throughout the world. I learned from the best and continue to apply their teachings to building brands with innovative products that aesthetically will standout on shelf from the competition.

During my time at Hasbro I grew to be the lead designer for Super Soaker, Nerf Sports, Nerf Fire-Vision, as well as Nerf Dart Tag and some Nerf N-Strike products.
Industrial Designer

Propane Creative

Atlanta, GA

Jun 2007 - Dec 2007 (6 months)

As a part of a very small design team, I was able to get my hands on wide range of initiatives from creating a visual brand language for Meco’s line of Aussie Gas Grills, to creating advance concepts for Interface Flor and Scientific Games, and working on production work for Husqvarna and EGT. Because of our large clientele at Propane Creative I’d inherited an immense amount of real world experience right out of school.
Industrial Design Intern

TARDEC

Warren, MI

Jan 2007 - Jun 2007 (5 months)

Created concepts and physical models that help provide solutions to the many problems our Military encountered with their HMMWV (aka Hummer) Vehicle on patrol in various parts of the world.
Industrial Design Intern

Hasbro (Nef and Super Soaker)

Pawtucket, RI

May 2006 - Oct 2006 (5 months)

A great internship that allowed me to focus on concept development, product refinement, and model making for Nerf and Super Soaker.
Industrial Design Intern (Contract)

Plastic Safety Systems, Inc.

Cleveland, OH

Jan 2006 - May 2006 (4 months)

Develop concepts and physical models that focus on quick safety sign and signal deployment in case of emergencies and hazardous conditions.
Industrial Design Intern

Diebold

North Canton, OH

May 2005 - Aug 2005 (3 months)

My main duties was to focused on concept development, research, and product refinement for future Diebold products that centered around security and fraud protection.
Industrial Design Intern

Converse

Dover, MA

May 2005 - Jun 2005 (1 month)

Selected as apart of a group of 8 Industrial Design Students from across the country for their 2nd annual Intern Design Event. Most of the work focused on design blitzes for concept development around future concepts for their existing models and ideation for footwear that centered on their spokespeople like Dwyane Wade and Mos Def.

Awards

2021 NYCxDesign Award Winner :: kitchen fixtures + fittings (Tone Kitchen Collection)

2007 International Housewares Student Design Competition (3rd place) :: TOTY (Toy of the Year Award Winner 2011 (Super Soaker Shot Blast) and Nominated 4 times 2012 - 2013 (FireVision Sports Football Set and Super Soaker Thunder Storm) :: 2013 Bissell Innovation Awards Winner :: 2007 Coroflot All Star (featured portfolio) :: Hasbro Innovation Awards Winner (2011, 2010, 2009) :: Cleveland Institute of Art Honorary Scholarship (2006) :: Daimler Chrysler Scholarship for Excellence in Industrial Design (2005) :: Cleveland Institute of Art Portfolio Scholarship (2002 - 2007) ------------------------- Work Featured in Car Design News, Maxium, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Popular Mechanics, and Business Week Online, cardesignnews.com, Innovation, automotto.org, yankodesign.com, core77, thedesignblog.org, and designcrave.com

Affiliations

IDSA

Industries

Skills

Elsewhere on the Web

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On Coroflot

@drewskij, member since 2005

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