Tom Hughes

Tom Hughes has a diverse work experience in the field of design and branding. Tom started their career in 1976 as a Sr. Art Director at Polaroid Corporation and later worked as a Creative Director at Apple Computer. At Apple, they played a significant role in creating the brand identity for Macintosh and collaborated with Chiat/Day on global marketing communications. Tom then joined Lotus in 1986 as the Director of Creative Development, where they implemented a new brand identity and packaging strategy, resulting in substantial cost savings. Following their tenure at Lotus, Tom worked as a Consultant for IBM, providing design expertise to the Director of Design. In 1996, they co-founded Idealab, where they worked alongside Bill Gross in developing company concepts, branding, and user experience. Since its founding, Idealab has successfully launched over 200 companies. Tom also served as a Mentor at TechStars from 2012 to 2019 and as a Steering Committee Member for UMass Amherst Innovators Alumni Network from 2017 to 2020.

Tom Hughes attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 1968 to 1972, where they studied English and Art. Tom also completed their high school education at Boston College High School. Additionally, Tom obtained certification in advanced French fluency from Duolingo in October 2015.