A few of Jack’s work highlights, including Genusee, Parsons, and various research projects, are below. More comprehensive case studies and bodies of work available upon request.
Genusee
As a co-founder of Genusee, Jack designed the circular business model and oversaw its implementation. He directly managed funding strategy, product design, PR & marketing strategy, photo and video shoots, art direction, manufacturing systems, supply chain, hiring, and brand partnerships. Maneuvering from micro to macro throughout all parts of the business provided an opportunity to build a more holistic and ethos-driven company that valued people and environmental impact over profits.
Genusee made eyewear from single-use plastic water bottles in Flint, Michigan. The company's unwavering dedication to sustainability has translated into more than $2 million in sales, distributing over 15,529 pairs of eyewear—all from a single frame style.
Their inspiring narrative has touched millions, securing features in major media outlets like ABC World News Tonight, New York Times, Vogue, Forbes, and Elle, collectively reaching over ten million Americans in a single day. Vogue recognized the company as one of "56 Brands Changing the Face of American Fashion."
However, Genusee's impact transcends products; it encompasses people. Their product-centric participatory design processes have empowered the local community, fostering a sustainable 90-mile supply chain that has engendered over 12 full-time jobs in Flint, Michigan. By collaborating with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the M.A.D.E. Institute, Genusee provided employment opportunities for returning citizens and structurally unemployable individuals, all while receiving state incentives to drive positive change.
Genusee was founded on doing good for people and the planet. Over the company's life, they raised over $12,000 for charity partners and have recycled over 5,000 pounds of single-use plastic water bottles into eyewear, reducing environmental harm while making a tangible difference.
This incredible journey wouldn't have been feasible without the support of a thriving community of customers, investors, grants, and accelerators who have helped transform their vision into a flourishing reality.
Pedagogy
Teaching, learning, and facilitating critical conversations have been instrumental parts of Jack's practice since he began working in design over ten years ago. Among his other notable achievements in the educational field, he has been a Part-Time Faculty member at Parsons The New School of Design since 2015 and spent several stints teaching and lecturing internationally. Beyond teaching, his studies and classroom explorations have helped bolster his understanding of design theory and practice.
Jack has been fortunate enough to facilitate a range of explorative spaces for students to engage with various facets of design thinking, strategy, and systems across ten different courses in Undergrad and Graduate programs. Within the institution, but outside the classroom, he facilitated syllabi workshops as the design studio faculty lead and led faculty development workshops to enrich the university further. He also designed and implemented courses with external institutions and partners, such as the Design for Disabilities course in conjunction with The Cerebral Palsy Foundation and Anna Sui.
Although classical pedagogical pursuits have been critical components of Jack's practice, he is constantly scanning for new, alternative means of pedagogy centered on modes of unlearning and learning spaces outside of formal institutions. Jack was awarded mentorship from IDEO, Fjord, and XRC Labs and has, in turn, mentored fellows in the Impact Entrepreneurship Program. Additionally, Genusee provided a space for Jack to learn, teach, and build platforms with and for others to seed what might come next through open-sourcing, training, community engagement, cultivating community green spaces, and providing ongoing support for children poisoned by the Flint water crisis.
