Hitoshi Ujiie

Director
[email protected]
215-951-2682

Hitoshi Ujiie is a pioneer in Surface Imaging. With over 20 years of professional experience in surface imaging and manufacturing, his achievements have combined first-hand industry knowledge with academic pioneering in new technology. A native of Kyoto (the center of Japan's textile industry), as an integral member of his family's business, he inherited a specialized knowledge of short run, quality fabric production, and finishing.

Hitoshi's professional experience includes designing at Jack Lenor Larsen Design Studio in New York. There, Hitoshi was involved in the development of fine printed fabrics on a worldwide level. In the early 1990s, he established his design studio, specialized in styling a wide range of new surface imaging products.  His collections have been exhibited in many museums, including permanent collections at Cleveland Museum, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, and Brooklyn Museum.

Sensing the technological revolution on the horizon, he developed expertise in Surface Imaging, the digital transformation of the imageries on a wide range of substrates with advanced inkjet printing processes. As a surface imaging specialist, he is recognized the world over as a digital printing expert and is sought after for his presentations on the subject.

At present, he is a professor at Thomas Jefferson University. His involvement in launching Surface Imaging + Research has provided him with the rare opportunity to research and implement new applications of cutting-edge technologies, innovative business concepts, and creative design to the public.

Hitoshi received a BFA from Kyoto Seika University in Japan and MFA from the University of Georgia.

Jess Jahnle

Technical Associate
[email protected]
215-951-2996

Jess Jahnle is a Philadelphia-based Designer with a focus on creating original large format designs for interior and exterior surfaces using high quality, sustainable materials, and innovative digital printing technology. 

She received a BFA in Painting from Maryland Institute College of Art in 2014 and an MS in Surface Imaging from Philadelphia University in 2016. Jess has a variety of applied industry experiences ranging from textiles, fashion, large format printing for commercial vehicle graphics, wall murals, window graphics, and most recently startup business.

Jess currently manages advanced digital printing systems, provides support for applied research projects (faculty, staff, and students) and education to the professional imaging industry as a Technical Associate for the Center of Excellence in Surface Imaging. She also owns and operates a print design studio, Yes Paper Studio, focused on large scale wallpaper and textile designs for residential and commercial interiors.