Sean Isamu Johnson

Sean is a designer, researcher, and the resident plain language expert at CCD. He combines his knowledge of information design, user experience, and and understanding of the law to bring down barriers between people and their government.

Sean earned his M.A. in forensic linguistics from Hofstra University in 2020, where he wrote his thesis on the intersection of plain language and cognition. In a past life, he worked for over a decade as a bicycle mechanic.

When Sean’s not working, you might find him mountain biking, enjoying a home-cooked meal, or trying to convince the neighborhood cats to be his friend.

At Center for Civic Design, Sean:

• Developed a workbook and template for creating accessible PDF forms
• Led research on the vote by mail ballot envelopes
• Leads an ongoing research project on writing ballot questions in plain language