Joseph Weissgold
is a service designer,
visual storyteller,
& educator / coach
based in Toronto.
About Joseph
Major Projects
Minor Projects
Past Projects
Portfolio
LinkedIn
Reach Out
© 2024 Joseph Weissgold.
All Rights Reserved.
About Joseph
Joseph Weissgold is a Canadian-American product and experience designer based out of Toronto. He is the Chief Product Officer at 'Optimism', is a founding member of the ‘Pardon’ family office, and he offers coaching, facilitation, and consulting for a select group of early stage companies and entrepreneurs.

He is technically proficient in design, having studied at Parsons, Carleton, and SVA where he earned his graduate degree, and has worked with a wide range of organizations including the United Nations (UN), Future Now, Makerbot, Soundfly, the Museum of Natural History (AMNH), the Department of Education, the Future Project, and more.
Reach Out
Major Projects
Optimism
A inbox-first digital media company with 20+ brands and an audience of more than 6 million active readers.
optimism.com
Pardon
A modern family office, holding company, venture fund, and art collection with a focus on contemporary collage.
pardon.com
Minor Projects
Grownup Creative
A studio practice, creating products that help people plan for big life changes and know themselves better.
grownupcreative.com
Olea Design
An independent design practice for mission driven organizations, from strategy to communications. 
oleadesign.co
The Jewish Fiction Journal
An online journal of more than 600 stories of Jewish Fiction, including translations from 20+ languages.
jewishfiction.com
Past Projects
Parsons, the New School for Design
Faculty member teaching courses in design, business strategy, and systems thinking. 2019-2021.
newschool.edu/parsons
After Community
Products and workshops to help people navigate end of life decisions and turn them into plans. 2018-2021.
aftercommunity.com
Future Labs
Founding member of the social impact start-up studio and Head of Invention (the design team). 2017-2019.
futurelaboratories.co
The Future Project
Director of Dream Academy, a multi-year program for life coaches in high schools across the U.S. 2014-2017.
thefutureproject.org
The Teacher’s Lounge
A program in partnership with Brooklyn Public libraries to help teachers design STEM curriculum. 2012-2015.
theteacherslounge.org
Miscellaneous Contracts
Strategy / Facilitation
Future Now
United Nations ID2020
Cambrya
Soundfly
Lab/Shul
GLP
Product / Service
Nekuda DM
DOE iZone 360
Gentec International
Graphic Design
National Gallery of Canada
Schapiro’s Restaurant
Nobl Collective
Antibes Bistro
Design Education
The Guggenheim
Museum of Natural History
The Institute of Play
Scarsdale High School
Quest to Learn
Little Red High School
Havergal College
Speaking
PopTech
Hopscotch
Providence College
Infonex
NYU TrepCamp
Portfolio
Organization
Design
Learning &
Development
Research &
Systems Mapping
Product &
Web Design
Organization
Design
Visioning
Roadmapping
Structuring
Goalsetting
Rollout
Vision
describing the desired future
Roadmap
zoom in on the first horizon
Structure
visualize the org system
Goals
set targets, assign resources
Rollout
design assets/experiences
Pardon and Optimism (2021)
Launching a family office and arts foundation, with a diverse portfolio of projects and holdings.
National Gallery of Canada (2020)
A roll-out oriented project, in partnership with NOBL, to build out a robust strategic plan document as a capstone to many months of work.
The Future Project (2017)
As a member of the leadership team, shaping the MVV, redesigning the org chart, setting goals, and creating assets to roll out the plan.
Learning &
Development
Cultural Moments
Presentations
Best Practices
Innovation
Problem Solving
Cultural Moments
shared identity/culture
Presentations
updates to org strategy
Professional Development
best practices
Innovation Charrettes
ways to optimize
Problem-Solving
collective genius
Dream Academy (2016)
Design and implementation of a multi-year training program, preparing field-staff for their work in high schools across the U.S.
Civic Imagineer Onboarding (2018)
An intensive one-week onboarding program for a cohort of new designers and researchers at a newly launched social impact start-up studio.
Future Now (2019)
An end-of year team retreat, designed to align the team and workshop some of the challenges the organization was facing at the time.
Research &
Systems
Mapping
Empirical Data
Mental Models
Prototypes
Systems Mapping
Logic Models
The work of research and mapping includes:
(a) mental models
naming hunches
(b) prototypes
testing key assumptions
(c) Systems mapping
visualizing complexity
(d) logic models
tying actions to outcomes
(e) empirical data
deriving useful insights
See ExamplesClose Examples
The Teacher's Lounge (2014)
A research study turned non-profit aiming to understand and address breakdowns in the U.S. education system through the lens of teachers.
Sage (2018)
A service-oriented business for seniors, based on research into trends including the shift in demographics and the rise of automation.
Enough (2017)
An intensive three-month study to determine the optimal basic income distribution, and a book with maps and charts to support the findings.
Product &
Web Design
Mass Production
Websites / Apps
Investor Decks
Books / Posters
Video / Animation
Installations
Joseph works in a wide range of media:
(a) Physical products
design for scale
‍(b) Websites
story, function, and purpose
(c) Interactive web apps
software
‍(d) Decks
land external partnerships
(e) more
videos, books, menus, installations
See ExamplesClose Examples
After (2020)
A suite of products, including a workbook, a board game, a deck of cards, and a web platform, to help people craft their end of life plans.
Logbook (2015)
Design and CQI of a proprietary web portal for Dream Directors to track engagement with the High School students they were working with.
"Loop" Haptic Wayfinding (2013)
”Loop” vibrates clockwise or counter-clockwise when a turn is approaching. No need to hold your phone while navigating. Runner-up in the 2014 Core77 Design Awards.
Designed with Kathryn McElroy
Soft Light (2012)
”Soft Light” is a plush rechargeable lightbulb. A comfort object. Soft, cool, and durable. Turns on and off by pressing the top in toward the base. Recharges by screwing it into a standard fixture.
“Everywhere” Local Used (2013)
”eBay Everywhere” is an app that allows for more organic peer-to-peer exchanges by pinging you when someone nearby is selling something that's on your wishlist. Developed in partnership with eBay.
Designed with Richard Clarkson
Lensmate (2012)
Working with a Canadian camera accessories company to design and launch a new and improved camera lens cleaner for Canadian markets.
French Press in a Mug (2012)
A single-shot french press, ready to drink. As the ceramic filter is lowered into the mug, the coffee emerges through the porous walls, trapping the grounds below. Made with sinterable paper (ceramic).Designed with Damon Ahola, Matt Barber, and Mansi Gupta
"Komorebi" Smart Blinds (2012)
A window blind system with a pleasant wake-up experience. The shade slowly fans open letting in natural light, inspired by light streams pouring through layers of leaves, called "komorebi" in Japanese.Designed with Minsun Mini Kim and Beth Wernet
See More
Portfolio
Organization
Design
Learning &
Development
Research &
Systems Mapping
Product &
Web Design
Pardon and Optimism (2021)
Launching a family office and arts foundation, with a diverse portfolio of projects and holdings.
Pardon and Optimism (2021)
Launching a family office and arts foundation, with a diverse portfolio of projects and holdings.
Pardon and Optimism (2021)
Launching a family office and arts foundation, with a diverse portfolio of projects and holdings.
Pardon and Optimism (2021)
Launching a family office and arts foundation, with a diverse portfolio of projects and holdings.
Pardon and Optimism (2021)
Launching a family office and arts foundation, with a diverse portfolio of projects and holdings.
Pardon and Optimism (2021)
Launching a family office and arts foundation, with a diverse portfolio of projects and holdings.
Pardon and Optimism (2021)
Launching a family office and arts foundation, with a diverse portfolio of projects and holdings.
Pardon and Optimism (2021)
Launching a family office and arts foundation, with a diverse portfolio of projects and holdings.
Pardon and Optimism (2021)
Launching a family office and arts foundation, with a diverse portfolio of projects and holdings.
Pardon and Optimism (2021)
Launching a family office and arts foundation, with a diverse portfolio of projects and holdings.
Pardon and Optimism (2021)
Launching a family office and arts foundation, with a diverse portfolio of projects and holdings.
Pardon and Optimism (2021)
Launching a family office and arts foundation, with a diverse portfolio of projects and holdings.
Pardon and Optimism (2021)
Launching a family office and arts foundation, with a diverse portfolio of projects and holdings.
Pardon and Optimism (2021)
Launching a family office and arts foundation, with a diverse portfolio of projects and holdings.
Pardon and Optimism (2021)
Launching a family office and arts foundation, with a diverse portfolio of projects and holdings.
Case Studies
Pardon and Optimism (2021)
Launching a family office and arts foundation, with a diverse portfolio of projects and holdings.
National Gallery of Canada (2020)
A roll-out oriented project, in partnership with NOBL, to build out a robust strategic plan document as a capstone to many months of work.
The Future Project (2017)
As a member of the leadership team, shaping the MVV, redesigning the org chart, setting goals, and creating assets to roll out the plan.
Dream Academy (2016)
Design and implementation of a multi-year training program, preparing field-staff for their work in high schools across the U.S.
Civic Imagineer Onboarding (2018)
An intensive one-week onboarding program for a cohort of new designers and researchers at a newly launched social impact start-up studio.
Future Now (2019)
An end-of year team retreat, designed to align the team and workshop some of the challenges the organization was facing at the time.
The Teacher's Lounge (2014)
A research study turned non-profit aiming to understand and address breakdowns in the U.S. education system through the lens of teachers.
Sage (2018)
A service-oriented business for seniors, based on research into trends including the shift in demographics and the rise of automation.
Enough (2017)
An intensive three-month study to determine the optimal basic income distribution, and a book with maps and charts to support the findings.
After (2020)
A suite of products, including a workbook, a board game, a deck of cards, and a web platform, to help people craft their end of life plans.
Lensmate (2012)
Working with a Canadian camera accessories company to design and launch a new and improved camera lens cleaner for Canadian markets.
Logbook (2015)
Design and CQI of a proprietary web portal for Dream Directors to track engagement with the High School students they were working with.
Inventions
Soft Light (2012)
”Soft Light” is a plush rechargeable lightbulb. A comfort object. Soft, cool, and durable. Turns on and off by pressing the top in toward the base. Recharges by screwing it into a standard fixture.
"Loop" Haptic Wayfinding (2013)
”Loop” vibrates clockwise or counter-clockwise when a turn is approaching. No need to hold your phone while navigating. Runner-up in the 2014 Core77 Design Awards.
Designed with Kathryn McElroy
“Everywhere” Local Used (2013)
”eBay Everywhere” is an app that allows for more organic peer-to-peer exchanges by pinging you when someone nearby is selling something that's on your wishlist. Developed in partnership with eBay.
Designed with Richard Clarkson
French Press in a Mug (2012)
A single-shot french press, ready to drink. As the ceramic filter is lowered into the mug, the coffee emerges through the porous walls, trapping the grounds below. Made with sinterable paper (ceramic).Designed with Damon Ahola, Matt Barber, and Mansi Gupta