Mark Johnson

Mark has spent more than 27 years in consumer product design and development, working at Weber Grills and Radio Flyer, where he served in roles ranging from Industrial Designer, Manager, Director, and Vice President of Product Development. Throughout his career, he led multidisciplinary teams responsible for developing products from user research and concept development through prototyping, engineering, manufacturing, and commercialization.
Working with designers, engineers, marketers, and manufacturing partners around the world, Mark has helped bring numerous consumer products to market while balancing user needs, innovation, manufacturability, and business objectives.
His work has been recognized with multiple industry honors, including two Toy of the Year Awards, two Red Dot Design Awards, and three Chicago Innovation Awards. He is also named as an inventor on more than 40 U.S. patents.
Throughout his career, Mark has been passionate about mentoring students and emerging designers. He developed internship programs, collaborated with universities on sponsored design projects, participated in portfolio reviews and design critiques, and guest lectured on industrial design, product development, and innovation. He enjoys helping students bridge the gap between design education and professional practice.
Mark believes successful designers combine creativity, empathy, and curiosity with an understanding of the complete product development process. His teaching emphasizes research, prototyping, collaboration, and learning through making, helping students transform thoughtful ideas into meaningful products that can be successfully manufactured and brought to market.

Areas of Professional Expertise
Product Design & Development
Leading multidisciplinary product development from research and concept development through manufacturing and commercialization.
Prototyping & Design for Manufacture
Applying prototyping, materials knowledge, and manufacturing processes to translate ideas into successful consumer products.
Innovation & User-Centered Design
Using observation, research, and iterative design methods to develop products that balance desirability, feasibility, and business viability.
Mark earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.