EJ Bailey, 1990

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2023 Induction Speech

“This is a huge surprise and is an even bigger honor. Heights High is a very special place to learn. Many of my fondest memories and deepest, longest friendships were formed here. The educators and opportunities Heights afforded me set me on a path of self-discovery and self-determination. Wherever I live and wherever I travel, I proudly represent my home town of Cleveland Heights and this beautiful school.”

“Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.”

Eric Bailey is best known to his Heights High friends as E.J. Bailey. After graduating from Heights in 1990, he studied Graphic Design at the University of Cincinnati, where he had the fortune of interning in multiple cities including Boston, Dallas, and St. Louis. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Design.

E.J. spent seven years in Chicago as a designer and educator. At Arc Worldwide, he worked as a web designer bringing fortune 500 brands onto the internet for the first time. He also co-founded Project Osmosis, a non-profit teaching design skills to high and middle school kids while forming mentorship relationships between students and industry professionals. He also briefly taught continuing education at the Art Institute of Chicago. 

E.J. returned to school earning a Master of Arts in Education from Stanford University’s Learning, Design and Technology program.

For eight years he served as a user experience designer and Creative Director at Frog Design, a global innovation firm creating products and services for healthcare, education, fitness/wellness, entertainment, financial services, etc. His patented work can be found anywhere from Disney parks to hospital rooms. From there E.J. built and led design teams at AthenaHealth and served as Head of Design and Research at AltSchool. Today, he is a Vice President of User Experience at Zillow Group, leading the creation of home financing customer experiences and tools for operators. Eric also lives his purpose through his own company Properganda– making wearable and shareable graphic art with a twist of social commentary. 

E.J. is considered a User Experience executive with 25+ years of industry experience. He believes that each of us has a purpose, and that the highest achievement of Design is to help us fulfill that purpose. As a practitioner, his intent is to create transformative experiences that make us healthier, happier and wiser. As a manager, he guides designers to discover and achieve their own north star. 

Education

BS of Design, University of Cincinnati 

MA in Education, Stanford University 

Current Occupation

Graphic Designer

Achievements
  • A proud husband and father of two beautiful kids
  • Built and led multiple design teams at startups and large tech companies 
  • Work is featured in design publications. Named on multiple design/engineering patents 
  • Founded Properganda, a graphic art business 
  • Co-founded a non-profit organization mentoring creative middle and high school students 
  • Designs used in Disney Parks and used in hospitals and doctors’ offices