Eric Gould Bear is the founder and CEO of Austin’s award-winning MONKEYmedia, Inc. He has over 25 years experience crafting and establishing user experience strategies for major corporations and is first-named inventor on over 100 software and hardware patents and patent applications. Products based on his inventions are used every day by millions of people and thousands of companies. Communication Arts described Eric as “one of the most thoughtful and provocative interface and interaction designers working in the field.” He is a former university professor (San Francisco State University and UT Austin) and Fortune 500 executive (Microsoft and Yahoo!). Eric provides mentoring and executive consulting as a virtual Chief Experience Officer, paving the path for companies’ own full-time design leaders to step up at the right time. Areas of expertise include corporate leadership in user experience strategy, software/hardware design management, creative reviews & concept development, and intellectual property. He has hands-on experience with patent litigation and serves as a testifying expert witness in such matters.

Eric is a lifetime member of the Association for Computing Machinery and Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, and a member of the Austin Intellectual Property Law Association.  He serves as President of the board of directors of Austin’s Blue Lapis Light, an innovative site-specific aerial dance company.