Meet John Payne ‘90: SIGD Advisory Council Member

John Payne ‘90 has a passion for being of service to the public. As Head of Design for Public Policy Lab, he is a changemaker for a non-profit service design and government innovation consultancy out to improve the experiences that low-income and under-resourced Americans have with public services. Earning his Bachelor of Industrial Design from SIGD in 1990, more than a decade later, he co-founded Moment, a firm that was at the forefront of bringing a human-centered approach to digital products. In 2018, Moment became part of Verizon, with Payne taking on the role of Verizon’s Head of Service Design.

Payne also has been a notable figure in leading design industry events. He co-chaired and curated the 2012 edition of the international design conference EPIC, a celebrated event on ethnography in business and design, along with the 2017 edition of the Interaction Design Association’s annual global conference.

Another reason it is little wonder Payne has become a member of the School of Industrial and Graphic Design (SIGD) Advisory Council is because of his established hand in higher education. Among his experience, he has taught graduate-level design research and methodology courses at the Parsons School of Design and New York University and also was appointed Associate Professor of Design for Technology and Society at the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology in 2021.

Now he has a chance to extend his knowledge and belief in education to his alma mater.

“I believe in Auburn’s ability to educate world class designers with the appropriate values and skills to contribute successfully to the industry, but as industry demands change, the school must adapt and be flexible to accommodate those changes,” he stated.

Payne is interested in helping the school benchmark industry talent and competitive schools to inform curriculum and other training opportunities. In addition, he wants to help the school prepare students for the opportunities their design degree, skills and training can afford them. He also aims to support SIGD in broadening access and opportunity, with particular emphasis on improving the representation of minority and marginalized populations in the student body.

Payne remembers his time on the Plains fondly and now wants to give other members of the Auburn family strong memories.

“My time in Auburn’s Industrial Design program was formative in establishing life skills as well as design ability,” Payne shared. “In Dr. Schaer’s and Professor Lau’s design studios in particular, I learned that big challenges can be broken down into achievable tasks.”

Payne is ready for the big challenge of moving SIGD to greater heights as a member of the Advisory Council.