Jacob Polhill is a Chicago-based designer, educator, and DJ whose work lives at the intersection of people and the things they reach for — objects, spaces, sounds, and the moments those encounters create.

He holds a Bachelor of Design from the University of Illinois Chicago, where his studies centered on human-centered design and research. Since graduating, he's built his practice across several Chicago design studios and an independent freelance practice, with an eye toward work that holds up — not just visually, but in the hand, over time.

He currently serves as Instructional Lab Specialist at UIC's College of Architecture and Design, where he works closely with students navigating the same questions of craft and intention that drive his own practice.

Off the clock, Jacob is a crate digger and DJ rooted in Chicago's disco, funk, soul, and house traditions. The same eye for thoughtful design that shapes his practice finds a natural home behind the decks — drawn to a well-curated dance floor the way he's drawn to a well-made object.