HUMAN-CENTERED EXPERIENCE DESIGNER, BRAND STRATEGIST, AND NETWORK BUILDER UNCOVERING SYNERGIES AND CONNECTING DOTS
Biography
Jake Trussell is the founder of Metabolize, a design, innovation, and brand strategy consultancy.
He is also an Experience Design Strategist with Basil Consultants, a firm that helps build effective organizations by identifying and developing innovative talent and improving the design of company culture.
He recently co-founded an early-stage startup called WhosWithUs, developing a market for investment in musician's careers in order to help grow a sustainable middle class of artists.
As Creative Director at World Business Chicago — the city's economic development organization chaired by the Mayor — Trussell oversaw design, branding, and marketing. The portfolio under his purview included positioning Chicago as a global business destination (#1 for corporate investment 5 years running) and a number of civic startups incubated at the organization. He also led initiatives focused on innovation and entrepreneurship in the technology and creative sectors.
Trussell is a mentor at the 2112 creative industry incubator and is a member of the Chicago Ideas Radical Creators.
He's also an award-winning web designer, recording artist, DJ, event producer, and record label founder.
Trussell Graduated with Distinction with a BFA in Media and Performing Arts from the Studio for Interrelated Media at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. He also has an innovation certificate from IDEO U, and a blockchain certificate from the Linux Foundation.
DESIGN ADVOCATES
by understanding human needs and articulating the relationship between humans and products, services, experiences
DESIGN SOLVES
problems by creating delightful experiences in order to create value
DESIGN STRATEGY LEADS TO INNOVATION