Business Bio

Jon has evolved his art from still images to multimedia to consumer products. Originally a freelance photographer, then a pen-and-ink designer with a background in fine arts, he moved to multimedia early in its technological development. He created animated demos and retail point-of-sale kiosks in the early 90's, and then moved to a design firm called CKS. He worked in its fledgling Interactive group, creating Web sites, CD-ROMs, digital video, and animations for leading technology firms. CKS soon became one of the largest multimedia agencies in the world. Later he worked for MausHaus, an interactive design firm, handling similar responsibilities for an equally impressive list of clients. Recently, with the decline of the economy Jon gathered up some of his old workmates and started a completely virtual company called, SuMaWah LLC. This new company model focuses on product development, design and marketing for new consumer electronic products. Through Jon's experience he has assembled contacts throughout the US and Asia and has the ability to develop consumer products from concept to completion. The products designed and marketed from Jon and his team are sold under several brand names including Spectare Products which is owned and maintained by Jon and his company. Jon's products have been placed in places like Target, Sharper Image, Brookstone, JC Penny and other specialty stores. Jon and his company now hold several Trademarks for consumer brand names as well as Design Patents for new product designs.

Jon brings a breadth of knowledge and experience that enables him to expertly manage projects from concept to completion. His long list of clients include some of the top national companies such as Sprint, Cisco, Apple, Timberland and Intel. He knows how to get projects completed successfully -- on time, on task and on budget. His style is a flexible, client-oriented, practical approach. He brings knowledge of how marketing and technology interplay and can recommend best approach for clients.

Jon’s past accomplishments include a CD-ROM for a Sprint national direct mail campaign and an interactive tradeshow kiosk for Lam Research, completed at Maus Haus. As Executive Producer for 12 Centimeter Multimedia Corp, his efforts were focused on the corporate and entertainment DVD markets. As Senior Producer for CKS|Pictures and CKS|Interactive (later became MarchFirst), Jon produced award-winning projects for Apple Computer, Globalstar and Timberland. Among previous work for CKS was an award winning series of retail in store demos for Apple computer, starting with the Apple Performa in 1995 and ending with the iMac in 1998.

Teaching Bio

Jon Bender has been teaching since he was a graduate student in Art at San Jose State University. He worked as an instructor at the university while pursuing his MFA. He teaches courses at the University of California, Santa Cruz Extension, in Cupertino and also at SFSU’s Multimedia Studies Program. Teaching seems like the perfect balance to his professional concerns. His students’ enthusiasm helps him retain a fresh perspective on his own work.

Jon currently teaches at UCSC Extension in Cupertino. He helps students integrate their training in applications and techniques with a project-oriented focus. His classes provide real world experience by setting up scenarios for which students must develop their own solutions. His students select a theoretical client and solve their communication problem with an interactive product. In the project related classes Jon divides students into working teams of three or four. The teams come up with concepts and that they develop through the prototype stage. This class is a perfect conclusion to the students training, helping students understand how all the components of their education fit together, and how to work in teams, skills that he himself seeks in new hires.

Jon holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Computers in Art from San Jose State University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography from the University of Alaska. As an instructor at UCSC Extension, Jon developed coursework that is now a requirement for a Web certificate.