Biography
Jason Cranford Teague is a UX strategist, designer, and speaker with more than thirty years of experience building for the web. He has spoken at SXSW, WebVisions, edUI, HOW Design Live, and World IA Day. His talks and workshops cover UX strategy, design systems, typography, and the intersection of design and technology.
Jason Cranford Teague is a UX strategist, designer, author, and speaker with more than thirty years of experience building digital products for the web. He has spoken at major conferences including SXSW, WebVisions, edUI, HOW Design Live, Chicago Camps, World IA Day, and UX New Zealand.
Jason's talks and workshops tackle the thorniest problems in digital design: why low-fidelity wireframes fail stakeholders, how to communicate accessibility requirements without conflict, how design systems actually get adopted, and how teams can critique work without making it personal. He draws on cognitive science, film theory, web standards, and three decades of practice to give audiences frameworks they can apply the following Monday.
He has authored nineteen books on web design and technology, held faculty positions at Drexel University, Guilford College, the University of Richmond, and Arizona State University (adjunct), and currently runs an independent consulting practice serving clients including SpaceX, IEEE, and the Consumer Technology Association.
Jason Cranford Teague has been designing for the web since 1994 — before CSS was a standard, before smartphones existed, and long before “UX” was a job title. Over more than thirty years he has worked as a designer, strategist, author, educator, and speaker, developing a perspective on digital craft that is simultaneously historical and deeply practical.
As a speaker, Jason has appeared at SXSW, WebVisions, Voices That Matter, edUI, HOW Design Live, Chicago Camps, World IA Day, UX New Zealand, and dozens of other events. He is known for talks that are grounded in real evidence, free of buzzword-heavy hand-waving, and immediately actionable — audiences leave with specific frameworks, not just inspiration.
His talk topics range from the case for high-fidelity prototypes (and why lo-fi wireframes fail stakeholders) to temporal design theory, design systems that actually get adopted, and practical frameworks for communicating accessibility to development teams. His workshop on design critique has helped teams across industries build healthier feedback cultures.
Away from the stage, Jason has authored nineteen books on web design and technology, including titles for major publishers on CSS, JavaScript, and interface design. He has held faculty positions at Drexel University, Guilford College, the University of Richmond, and Arizona State University (adjunct), and has been recognized by ADPList as one of its global Top 100 Mentors. His consulting practice, Jason Cranford Teague LLC, serves organizations including SpaceX, IEEE, and the Consumer Technology Association.
He is available for keynotes, workshops, and panels at conferences, corporate events, and professional development programs.
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What to Expect
Formats offered
- Keynote — 45–60 minutes with Q&A. Designed to open or close a conference day with a clear, memorable argument.
- Talk — 30–45 minutes. Focused and practitioner-level, suited to breakout tracks and themed sessions.
- Workshop — Half-day (3–4 hours) or full-day. Hands-on with exercises; ideal for teams and in-house training days.
- Panel — Flexible. Jason brings a clear perspective and is comfortable moderating as well as participating.
AV & technical needs
- Confidence monitor or laptop screen in speaker's sightline
- Clicker / wireless slide advancer
- Lavalier or handheld wireless microphone preferred; headset accepted
- Slides delivered as Keynote or Google Slides; PDF backup available
- For workshops: participant tables with power access, whiteboard or wall space
Topics available
- UX strategy & product design
- Design systems & component thinking
- Accessibility & inclusive design
- High-fidelity prototyping
- Design critique & team feedback culture
- Typography & visual language
- Web3 & emerging platform UX
Booking contact
- Email: jason@cranfordteague.com
- Phone: +1 541 600 4223
- Submit an inquiry at jasoncranfordteague.com/speak
- Jason responds to speaking inquiries within 2 business days
- Available for in-person and remote/virtual events
Talks & Workshops
To Be Rather Than to Seem: The Case for High-Fidelity Prototypes
CraftAudienceUX designers, product teams, design leaders
Why low-fi wireframes fail stakeholders, and how investing in high-fidelity prototypes earlier in the process leads to better decisions, fewer surprises, and products that land the way you intended.
How to Talk to Your Developers About Accessibility
AccessibilityAudienceUX designers, product managers, accessibility advocates
Practical frameworks for communicating accessibility requirements to development teams — without jargon, without conflict, and without compromising the design intent.
Temporal Design: Thinking in Space and Time
FuturesAudienceUX designers, interaction designers, design researchers
A new lens for understanding how users experience digital products as events unfolding over time — not just static screens. Draws on cognitive science, film theory, and thirty years of interface practice.
Building User-Centric Products for the Web3 Era
FuturesAudienceProduct teams, UX designers, founders
Web3 promises decentralization, but most interfaces fail basic usability tests. This talk applies decades of UX thinking to blockchain-based products — showing where the field is failing users and how to fix it.
The Art of the Design Critique
CraftAudienceDesign teams, design managers, cross-functional product teams
A hands-on workshop that gives teams a repeatable methodology for giving and receiving design feedback — structured, specific, and free of personal bias. Participants leave with a critique framework they can apply the next day.
Design Systems from the Inside Out
SystemsAudienceDesign and engineering teams, design leads
How to build a design system that actually gets adopted — from token architecture and component naming to governance and documentation. Covers what most teams get wrong, and how to course-correct without a rewrite.
Conference & Event History
- SXSW 5 appearances (2007–2016)
- WebVisions 6 appearances (including 2015 Barcelona workshop)
- Voices That Matter Recurring (notably 2009, 2010)
- edUI Recurring speaker (notably 2012)
- HOW Design Live 2 appearances
- Chicago Camps
- World IA Day
- UX New Zealand
- MacWorld 3 appearances
- MoDev Top-rated speaker
- Big Design Conference
- General Assembly Ongoing
Jason has spoken at more than 25 conferences, corporate events, and professional development programs.
What Organizers Say
Jason has been a top rated speaker at many Modev conferences and events. His ability to take concepts and ideas and relate them to a specific audience is a special gift.
P.E. — Founder & CEO, Conference Organizer
Jason has the ability to conceive and execute killer online user experiences. What is most impressive is his clear role as a thought leader in the realm of web standards.
P.R. — Chief Experience Officer
Jason is an experienced design leader. He is passionate about catalyzing the creative growth of his colleagues and the broader community. I've benefited tremendously from his creative judgment.
M.M. — Innovation Lead
Ready to book Jason?
Submit a speaking inquiry and Jason will be in touch within two business days to discuss dates, format, and details.