Charles Johnson

For nearly three decades Charles worked within the context of sports, fashion, active lifestyle, esports and connected products for leading global brands such as Adidas, Puma and Converse. With an Industrial Design degree from the School of Design, his professional starting point as a product designer specializing in footwear transformed to executive level leadership shaping visions, teams and global strategies. Charles has returned to campus and serves as Assistant Professor Leadership and Innovation at CMU Entertainment Technology Center. His course Product Design and Innovation: Scaling your idea from inception to mass market is designed to help students develop the range of skills related to bringing innovations to market in the face of adverse interests. Alongside his teaching he consults to a range of industries helping brands navigate their vision, corporate product engines shape new experiences and venture capitalists in need of expert insight to help guide their investment decision.