Justin Jelinek

I’m a Chicago based parent, experience designer, story teller, literacy and accessibility advocate, and museum and music aficionado.

Professionally, I’ve led people through life-changing events, including layoffs and a major airline merger. As a first responder to Hurricane Ike and an aviation disaster, I learned that sometimes it’s important to set business aside and make the right decisions based on people and principle rather than commercial interest.

As a collaborator with the United Airlines Accessible Travel Advisory board, I have cultivated an interest in accessibility issues. This interest has since expanded into concepts related to Universal Design, a concept which now influences each process or product that I develop.

As a member of the board of directors for a local literacy cooperative, I learned how to raise funds and to finance and develop programs in the non-profit sector. Most importantly, I witnessed first-hand the devastating socio-economic consequences of illiteracy as well as the profound and positive impact that a small, dedicated group of people can have on other people by creating greater access to literacy and education.

I’ve been fortunate to have traveled many stretches of this world; both local and abroad. Communication has been key. Each story that I’ve heard or have shared, has been monumental. And it’s influenced who I am, and who I hope to become.

Through these various and interesting turns in my life, I’ve mastered skills like negotiation, interpersonal communication, collaborative problem solving, and leadership - sometimes despite the confines of a stifling corporate environment.

As a student and practitioner of product design, I’ve learned to think outside of the box, and to embrace creativity and ingenuity in ways previously unimaginable to me. I look forward to watching my skills and ideas flourish in new, captivating environments.