About
Hi, I'm John — and I help designers create visuals that win the work.
I'm a 3D Visualization Expert, educator, and the founder of FOCUSED SketchUp. I built this company to give design professionals the workflow I wish I had when I started — modern, structured, and built to make you faster, better, and more profitable on every project.
I've taught over 3,000 designers from all over the world, spoken at the SketchUp 3D Summit, and worked with brands like Twindo. But what matters most is what happens for you: better presentations, faster client approvals, and the confidence to charge what your work is worth.
My Story
From software engineer to full-time educator
I spent 18 years in software development — building web applications for the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard. I worked my way up to VP of Software Solutions. On paper, I was crushing it. In reality, I was unfulfilled.
The whole time, my real passion was building things in the physical world. I bought my first house at 24 and started renovating it the day I got the keys. My wife Megan and I flipped that home, then started documenting our work under our home design brand Arched Manor, which has since grown to over 250,000 followers across platforms.
When Arched Manor started taking on design clients, I needed high-quality 3D visuals. I looked at every tool out there, landed on SketchUp + V-Ray, and learned the hard way — through YouTube rabbit holes, scattered forums, and a lot of trial and error. Once I had the workflow figured out, I realized I could teach a much faster path. So I built the course I wished I'd had.
I launched the first FOCUSED SketchUp course in 2022 as a side hustle. It grew quickly. Then one day my son walked past my office and said, "Dad, why do you look so sad?" That was the moment I knew. The cost of staying in the wrong career was no longer worth it. I went all-in on FOCUSED SketchUp, and I haven't looked back.
Today I teach designers full-time, speak at industry events, and build the workflows, tools, and communities that help our students do the best work of their careers.
FOCUSED SketchUp
What we do — and why we do it differently
FOCUSED SketchUp is an education-first visualization brand for design professionals. We teach designers how to own their full visual workflow — from SketchUp modeling to AI rendering to LayOut documentation — without piecing it together from scattered YouTube videos and forum threads.
The thing we actually sell isn't software training. It's confidence. The confidence to walk into a client meeting, present visuals that look like a polished build, and close the project at a higher fee. That's what visualization does — it builds trust, justifies your pricing, and wins more work.
The FOCUSED Method™
Most SketchUp training is either too shallow ("here's the line tool!") or too scattered (hours of unrelated tips). The FOCUSED Method is a complete, structured system for the modern designer:
- Flexible, on-demand lessons — short, focused, and built to be re-watched whenever you need a refresher.
- A massive 3D library — over 5,000 pre-made SketchUp objects so you stop modeling the same cabinets, windows, and fixtures from scratch.
- Reliable, fast support — direct email access to me, plus a private student Facebook group with hundreds of working designers.
Where we're going
AI rendering has crossed the line from "experimental" to client-ready. I personally use it for paid client work. The new workflow is SketchUp + AI — model the space accurately, then render it photorealistically in minutes instead of hours. Traditional rendering tools like V-Ray and D5 still have their place when you need precision, but AI is now the fast, modern output layer.
That's why we teach both sides — modern AI workflows alongside classic V-Ray and D5 — so you can pick the right tool for every project and stay ahead of where the industry is going.
Who we serve
Interior designers. Kitchen and bath designers. Landscape designers. Architects, cabinetmakers, builders, and serious DIYers. Anyone who needs to show a client what something will look like before it gets built.
By the Numbers
A few things worth knowing
3,000+
Designers taught worldwide
5,000+
SketchUp models in the FOCUSED 3D Library
2
SketchUp 3D Summits as a featured speaker (2025, 2026)
18 yrs
Software engineering background powering everything we build
Off the Clock
Outside the courses
I live in Leesburg, Virginia with my wife Megan, our sons Tristan and Charlie, and our dog. Megan and I run Arched Manor together — it's both our home and an ongoing design project. I work out daily, drink mushroom coffee, and spend most of my non-course time building something — a new asset library, a new course, custom built-ins for the house, or whatever AI tool just dropped.
If you want the long version, find me on the FOCUSED SketchUp blog or in the student Facebook group.
Ready to see what we teach?
Browse the courses to find the right one for your design specialty, or get in touch if you have questions.