Open to work — Chicago & remote 20+ years of UX excellence Advertising industry veteran Fortune 500 client roster A damn good guy, by all accounts Leo Burnett · FCB · Razorfish · Publicis · Critical Mass 9+ industries served · 50+ global markets AI-powered UX — not just a buzzword Open to work — Chicago & remote 20+ years of UX excellence Advertising industry veteran Fortune 500 client roster A damn good guy, by all accounts Leo Burnett · FCB · Razorfish · Publicis · Critical Mass 9+ industries served · 50+ global markets AI-powered UX — not just a buzzword

Available for hire · Chicago, IL

John Hegener
needs a job.

Twenty years. Nine industries. Fifty-plus global markets. One designer who turns complex problems into effortless experiences — and can tell you exactly why that matters to your bottom line.

20+ Years Experience
9+ Industries
50+ Global Markets
F500 Client Roster

Advertising pedigree

Leo Burnett Worldwide

Global Brand Portal · 50+ Markets

Foote, Cone & Belding

Discover Card · Cox Communications

Razorfish

Citibank Digital Experience

Publicis Groupe

McDonald's — Lead UX

Critical Mass

Enterprise E-Commerce Overhaul

Real Chemistry

Amgen · Genentech · AstraZeneca

Industries served

Advertising & Media Healthcare & Pharma Financial Services Fitness & Consumer Tech E-Commerce & Retail Enterprise SaaS Cannabis / Regulated Markets Telecommunications Food & Quick Service

Why hire John, specifically

Strategy-first thinking

John doesn't just make things pretty — he asks why, works backward from business outcomes, and builds experiences that move the needle.

Systems-level design

Built scalable Figma design systems that cut post-launch defects by 30% and gave engineering teams a single source of truth.

Accessibility, always

WCAG compliance isn't a checkbox — it's embedded into every component, every spec, and every design review from day one.

Global perspective

Designed for 50+ markets across multiple languages and cultures. Knows the difference between localization and genuine cultural empathy.

Most recent work

Real Chemistry

Senior UX Designer — Freelance

May – Jul 2026

Clients served: Amgen · Genentech · Genmab · Organon · Sobi · AstraZeneca

  • Designed user-centered digital experiences for leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology brands, spanning branded and unbranded healthcare websites, campaign microsites, and educational platforms.
  • Produced wireframes, sitemaps, information architecture, interaction models, and user flows — plus full UX documentation and design specs that accelerated developer handoff.
  • Leveraged generative AI tools including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Figma AI to rapidly explore UX concepts, generate sitemap alternatives, refine user flows, and accelerate wireframe production across multiple brands simultaneously.

AI-enhanced UX practice

🤖

Research & Synthesis

Using AI to accelerate user research synthesis, persona development, journey mapping, and UX documentation — turning hours of analysis into actionable insights faster.

ChatGPT Claude Gemini Fireflies AI
✏️

Design & Ideation

AI-assisted wireframing, concept exploration, and visual direction generation — rapid iteration at a pace that keeps pace with fast-moving product teams.

Figma AI Midjourney Grok
⚡

Workflow Velocity

Developed advanced prompting workflows for information architecture, usability test plans, content organization, and stakeholder presentations — reducing repetitive work without sacrificing craft.

Prompt Engineering AI-Powered IA

I've shipped work that reduced customer service calls by 35%, improved task completion by 20%, and helped Pfizer stand up a COVID-19 call center under crisis conditions. I work fast without cutting corners — and I genuinely enjoy the process.

— John J. Hegener, Principal UX Designer & noted damn good guy

The human behind the portfolio

Collaborative by nature

PMs, engineers, writers, strategists — John's worked with them all, and they tend to want to work with him again.

Communicates clearly

No design-speak jargon in stakeholder rooms. Just clear rationale, honest tradeoffs, and confident presentations.

Calm under pressure

He shipped enterprise software for Pfizer during a global pandemic. Your Q3 deadline is in good hands.

Chicago through and through

Deep roots in the city's creative and tech scene. Remote-friendly, globally minded, Midwest-grounded.

Ready to see the
actual work?

Twenty-plus years of case studies, design systems, and shipped products — all in one place.
Come on in. Pull up a chair. Enjoy your stay.

Enter the portfolio →

Or reach him at chicagouxguy@gmail.com