Resume & CV

Demetrio P. Maguigad

For over 25 years, I’ve dedicated myself to building a better world through the power of design, storytelling, and more authentic human connection.

My journey began with a deep-rooted commitment to social justice. As a young organizer, I witnessed the transformative power of community action firsthand. I used music, theater, and popular education methodologies like Theater of the Oppressed to mobilize disempowered voices, working with Filipino youth and immigrant domestic care workers in Chicago. These experiences instilled in me a lifelong passion for using my skills to address critical issues like human rights, environmental justice, and social equity.

I honed my expertise in communications strategy and media production, leading impactful initiatives for organizations like Public Narrative. I managed, researched, and scaled the production of “Getting On Air, Online, and Into Print,” a valuable public relations and communications resource guide for media and journalists. I also provided training to nonprofit communicators and journalists on digital media and communications, even participating in a US State Department mission to Morocco in 2012 to share my knowledge with local communicators and government officials.

My career then began to focus more on the role of design, where I became a leading voice in social impact design at LimeRed, a certified B-Corp. As Principal Director of Design Strategy for 12 years, I spearheaded innovative projects with nonprofits and social entrepreneurs. I co-designed the Idea Accelerator in San Francisco and Washington D.C. to introduce innovative design thinking to nonprofit culture, and co-authored “Branding for Changemakers” and “ARC: A Communications Guide for Small Arts Organizations Making Big Impact” to equip others with the tools for success.

Throughout my career, I’ve been a dedicated educator and mentor. As an adjunct faculty member at Columbia College Chicago for over 12 years, I’ve inspired generations of students with my insights on social media, digital strategy, and content creation. I’ve also generously shared my expertise with entrepreneurs and startups at local innovation hubs like 1871, 2112, and MHub, guiding them to apply design thinking principles to their missions.

Beyond my professional accomplishments, I’m a deeply engaged community member. I’ve served on the boards of numerous organizations, including the Chicago Cultural Alliance, where I led the development of brand strategy and oversaw the growth of public awareness campaigns for festivals like Inherit Chicago, Journey Chicago, and Dumping Fest. I also played a pivotal role in the Pilsen Housing Alliance, a Chicago-based organization that works with residents, artists, and housing activists to resist neighborhood gentrification by acquiring buildings and creating affordable housing opportunities for long-time renters.

My artistic expression extends beyond my professional work. I co-founded Bagwis, a multi-generational collective that uses music to activate and organize the community around human rights issues. I also contributed significantly to CIRCA Pintig, a local Filipino theater company, providing music direction and original scoring for award-winning productions.

Today, I continue to inspire and lead through my work at Polyrhythmic, a venture dedicated to creating stories and designing experiences that challenge our perspectives and empower us to build a more just and equitable world. My journey is a testament to the power of creativity, collaboration, and a lifelong commitment to making a positive impact.

Professional Experience

PLATFORM PROFICIENCIES:

Ableton Live
Adobe Creative Suite
Bugherd
Figma
Figjam
Mural
Microsoft Office 365
Sketch
Teamwork

SKILLED EXPERIENCE:

Brand Design
Business Intelligence
Concepting
Content Strategy
Creative Direction
Cross-team Management
Data Analysis
Design Direction
Design Management
Design Research
Design Strategy
Executive Presentation
Facilitation
Graphic Design
Ideation
Information Architecture
Instruction
Learning Design
Music Production
Prototype Testing
Sound Design
User Research & Analysis
User Interface Design
User Experience Design

PRACTICES:

Collaborative Design
Design Sprint Lead
Facilitation & Instruction
Human Centered Design
Lean, Agile, Waterfall Design & Development
Participatory Action Research
Theater of the Oppressed

NOTABLE PRESENTATIONS

Activating Your Startup Idea at Apple Store Chicago Opening

Social investigation through Human-Centered Design and Deliberative Democracy at the Obama Foundation

Research Methods for Digital Product Development at 1871

Design-Thinking for Marketing Communications at AMA

Creative Ideation for MIT Solve Challenge for Women & Technology at 2112

PUBLICATIONS

Branding for Changemakers: A guide for defining and communicating your brand’s impact

ArC: A communications guide for small arts organizations making big impact. Commissioned by the Driehaus Foundation

Founder, Principal Consultant

Polyrhythmic

2024 – Current

Providing creative and critical coaching for business and social impact leaders
Design sprint workshop facilitator for ideation, assessment, and product development
Design research, analysis, and strategy services
Story-based analysis and strategy services for communications design
Business Intelligence Design
Visual and interactive design direction and production services
Music and sound consultation, licensing, and production for podcasts, performance, and engaged media
Photographic documentation and licensing

Music Director & Sound Designer

Center for Immigrant Rights & Community Arts

2006 – Current

Composed original sound and musical scores for award winning theatrical and musical stage performances.
Provided creative direction for multimedia and sound production.
Musician for live theatrical performance.
Directed and engineered for stage sound and lighting.

Principal, Director of Design Strategy

LimeRed

2012 – 2024

Partnered with the owner to oversee business innovation & growth as a leading and award-winning B-Corp company.
Directed multiple and simultaneous projects with budgets up to $1.5 million for national and global organizations.
Established studio design methodologies, production practices, procedures, and brand asset libraries.
Led and conducted interactive quantitative and qualitative user research, design studies, and testing to frame problems and guide innovative solutions.
Led the planning, analysis, and design of business intelligence reports for global and national organizations to help executive leaders make decisions quickly and effectively.
Hired, mentored, directed, and managed dispersed cross-functional teams of managers, researchers, designers, data analysts, and engineers for brand and product development toward successful delivery.
Facilitated collaborative and interactive workshop sessions with users and stakeholders in order to gather design criteria and development requirements to meet both user and business success–including journey mapping, brand and design strategy, story-based analysis and strategy, and business innovation design.
Developed and presented concepts and prototypes of varying fidelity to key stakeholders and executives.
Designed, planned, and co-facilitated design sprints and coaching in the studio and at 1871, 2112, and MHub innovative incubators in Chicago.
Authored technical communications, design research synthesis, and data analysis reports.
Authored Branding for Changemakers: A guide for defining and communicating your brand’s impact.
Authored ArC: Marketing and Communications Guide for Small Arts ORganizations Making Big Impact.
Presented Accelerate Your Startup Ideas at the opening weekend of the Flagship Apple Store in Chicago.
Led and Co-designed the national Idea Accelerator in partnership with the NTEN in San Francisco and Washington DC

Adjunct Faculty Member, Instructor

Columbia College Chicago

2012 – 2024

Provided curriculum research and design support on SEO, social media, and digital strategies for the Communication and Media Innovation Department
Designed and instructed the courses Social Media & Digital Strategies, Social Media & PR Strategies, Content Strategy.
Provided mentorship to early career graduates in marketing, communication, and design fields.

Board Member, Lead Brand Manager

Chicago Cultural Alliance

2017 – 2024

Developed and managed the CCA brand identity and its sub-brands.
Acted as Design Director for all visual communications.
Oversaw the Audience Engagement Committee to provide guidance on staff and strategies for Inherit Chicago, Journey Chicago Festivals, and the World Dumpling Fest.
Provided consultation to the Executive Director in marketing, communication, and design.
Co-chaired the Executive Director Hiring Committee.
Designed MOSAIC 2018 through 2024.
Designed Inherit Chicago 2017 through 2018

NTA Faculty Member, Co-Convener of Idea Accelerator (San Francisco & Washington DC)

NTEN: The Nonprofit Technology Network

2015 – 2021

Provided course design and instruction on Digital Strategy for the NTA certification program.

Executive Producer & On-Air Host

Chicago is the World

2008 – 2015

Produced and hosted a weekly on-air program featuring global and local music and artists.
Trained and managed a team of co-hosts and journalists.
Partnered with an award winning journalist to conduct on-location interviews and web-based stories.

New Media Product Manager, Lead Consultant

Public Narrative (Formally Community Media Workshop)

2007 – 2012

Product owner of Getting on Air, Into Print, and Online media guide service databases and all of its assets contributing to 60% of the organization’s annual revenue.
Managed product development with third-party vendors and consultants to meet project success.
Designed and maintained the databases of nonprofits, news media organizations, and journalists contacts.
Managed the design and production of digital communications channels with a small team of marketers, media makers, and designers.
Led innovative design research and strategies to innovate and scale digital products.
Planned and led teams of media researchers to validate and maintain the integrity of data.
Provided professional training for journalists and nonprofit communicators on public relations, digital technologies, and social media strategies.

Director of Education & Programming

Video Machete

2004 – 2007

Designed and developed innovative media programs using new media and digital technology
Expanded programming areas from 3 to 7 school and community areas within Chicago
Produced and directed award winning videos
Mentored over 300 youth in the duration of position
Co-managed the office and production studios
Presented screenings in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Communication Specialist

American Friends Service Committee

2000 – 2004

Developed, managed, and executed organizational marketing and communications plan
Organized community-based communications networks
Managed Public Relations, write press releases and conferences on peace building during a time of war
Provided communications support and media development for the Great Lakes Regions programs