John Youger

John Youger serves as Head of User Experience (UX) at Columbus College of Art & Design, where he teaches UX Strategy, Design Methodologies, Studio Experience, and Advanced Consumer Insights & Synthesis as an Associate Professor. His work focuses on human-centered learning experiences, industry collaboration, and workforce development.

Prior to joining CCAD, Youger spent more than 20 years working across product design, UX strategy, customer experience, and innovation consulting with organizations including Fitch, Lextant, Resource Interactive (IBMx), WD Partners, as well as through independent consulting engagements. He currently serves as Partner at PINE | Strategy & Design.

Youger’s areas of expertise include UX strategy, product development, brand strategy, shopper insights, ethnographic research, retail design, customer experience, and innovation facilitation. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with numerous Fortune 100 organizations, including Microsoft, Starbucks, Intel, Procter & Gamble, and Home Depot. His key strategy and insight specialties include co-creation methodologies, design thinking, customer experience, service design, and consumer-centered innovation.

At CCAD, Youger works closely with the college’s C3 (Creative Careers & Collaboration) team to create industry-connected learning experiences through sponsored projects with organizations such as Nationwide Children's Hospital, Form5, Huntington Bank, and Nationwide Insurance, to name a few. His work emphasizes stronger connections between higher education and industry, workforce development, and regional economic growth through partnerships with organizations, including Delaware Area Career Center and broader Central Ohio initiatives.

Youger is the recipient of CCAD’s Teaching Excellence Award and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Design from The Ohio State University in 1997.