Tim is an award-winning creative leader with more than 30 years of global experience….
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Experience across many areas of design, innovation and creative disciplines.
Vast cross-industry experience, inc., healthcare, emerging tech., education, defense, consumer, services, pharmaceuticals.
Navigating volatile, uncertain, complex , ambiguous spaces.
Flexibility, empathy, stewardship, and listening
COLLABORATIVE APPROACHES
Design Thinking, Human Centered Design, foresight & consumer insights.
Collaborating outside of the box, remotely and in person, bleeding across intersections for results.
Integrating strategic insight and deep empathy for internal and external stakeholders
Intentioanlly fuel a culture of curiosity and creative collaboration.
Business, Technology, People.
STRENGTHS / ATTRIBUTES
Critical Thinking, Curious, Creative, Collaboration.
Responsibility, Achiever, Futuristic, Individualization, Ideation, Arranger.
Growth Mindset, Bold, Decisive, Committed
….A father, husband, scuba-diver, MTB’r, shark & ocean advocate, AV Tinkerer, creative leader, educator.
BELOW: An ongoing collection of achievements and experiences…
Panelist: Make a Case For Space
The space economy is tipped to be the next $1 Trillion industry.
Invited by Teague as one of three panelist at Ascend 2023 Conference help by AIAA discussing the application of human centered design, creativity and design thinking to create great user experiences for the emerging space economy.
Leading to Shape Great Experiences
Recruited to the Global Design leadership team to lead and advance multi-disciplinary design for an iconic 330 yr old brand establishing leading mindsets and frameworks to accelerate design maturity to bring value to the organization and those who invest in their physical and digital products, services and experiences.
Valuable, Usable, Desirable - a framework for great branded experiences.
Design Thinking /
Human-Centered Design
I’ve been practicing Design Thinking and Human Centered Design for the majority of my career, I have also also taught methods, mindsets and behaviors as the Director of Collaborative Innovation at the University of Notre Dame.
“At some point, the best practices, the established methods companies lean on will be obsolete, you can’t keep doing things in the same way with the same people and adapt to what’s going to come.”
Amplifying Curiosity!
Redefining a Legacy for a New Generation
Focusing on branded user experiences. Lead strategic Brand Design across the entire Yankee Candle portfolio, updating the iconic jar design and translating brand sensibilities across new active, connected, flame and flameless products and categories.
‘Making Moments Special’
Design Leadership Across $3.5bn Businesses
Industrial Design Director for leading business segments for Newell Brands, Rubbermaid Commercial Products and all sub brands, Quickie, Yankee Candle, WoodWick, Millifiori and Irwin Tools and Pure Fishing
Leading teams focusing on Human Centered Design and meaningful experiences and
Visual Brand Language Creation
I have led internal and external teams to create new visual brand language guidelines for several brands. Focusing on generating and maintaining ongoing relationships with consumers through every touchpoint and encounter.
A Visual Brand Language (VBL) is a set of guidelines that allow designers to deliver a consistent experience at every touch point, every time. Consistency not only builds brand equity and consumer loyalty, but also reduces development time and costs.
Deep Collaboration
I believe innovation is a result of diversity and collaboration.
I have introduced successful onsite and remote ‘Smart-Starts’ to innovation and design projects aligning and connecting cross functional teams from the outset, resulting in increased creativity, shorter lead times and stronger relationships.
I am practiced at orchestrating and facilitating structured multi-discipline team workshops and strategy sessions.
Nurturing Creative Cultures
Actively driven culture building initiatives and engagements across a global multidisciplinary team. Hosted multiple internal events in multiple locations. Team building, sharing of experiences and beliefs, presenting achievements, orchestrating and hosting team summits and monthly informal forums for sharing, learning and team building.
Sharing Design
I’ve been invited to speak at events where innovation, design, creativity and storytelling intersect with people, business and technology.
From organizations focused on the future to corporate events needing motivation and insight.
#designthinking #innovation #designconference #circulareconomy #circulardesign #storytelling #speakingengagement
Advanced Concepts
I have led the creation of multiple advanced concepts, connecting foresight, human centeredness, emerging technologies and valuable IP.
Projects have driven strategic roadmaps, internal advocacy, external adoption and commercialization for organizations including Corning, Qualcomm, Dell, Novartis, Flextronics, Marvell, E-Ink.
Design Strategy and User Insights
I have implemented immersive design, technology ethnographic, contextual and usability research to identify articulated and articulated needs and desires of customers and consumers. The blend of broader Consumer Marketing Insights, user centered research and human factors drive a deeper understanding to uncovered opportunities for design beyond the brief.
"Opportunity Finding”
Defining Design
As a subject matter expert to a $15bn global organization, I have been called upon to lead the transfer of knowledge, mindset and methodologies in the areas of collaboration, design and development.
In a pivotal role, I co-lead the definition of design processes and terminology for the design and innovation division. Increasing effectiveness by training over 300 cross functional team members to establish common procedures, behaviors and network ownership across the organization.
Prototyped, trialed and defined effective practices across all design disciplines. Drove adoption with best in class examples, consistent stewardship and formal visualization of processes and methodologies.
Creating New Categories
As the Director of Industrial Design for the Home Fragrance Division of Newell Brands I developed and executed multiple design strategies for the flame, flameless, auto and seasonal businesses.
Yankee Candle’s ‘Elevation’ is the first launch - the first new core product in 20 years, creating a new decor relevant category. Sales exceeded launch estimations by 185% with protected IP, regaining shelf space at lapsed mass retailers.
Elevation responds to deep user research, solving the #1 user frustration of not knowing what to do with the lid when the candle is lit while aligning to home decor trends, regaining the brands mission of ‘making moments special’ through multi sensorial experiences.
Evolving Frameworks for Innovation
Desirability, Feasibility, Viability, & Sustainability
Continually working to frame, communicate and integrate diverse approaches to Innovation
#designthinking #innovation #designconference #circulareconomy #circulardesign #storytelling #speakingengagement
Consultant, Facilitator & Coach
I actively collaborate across industries applying extensive experience as a hands on leader for design and innovation.
I can help with: Design Thinking (Coach & Facilitator), Human Centered Design, Ideation Workshop Facilitator, Design Strategist, Creative Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Research, Industrial Design
How can I help you? : CLICK HERE
Global Leadership - Design Summit
Increased effectiveness, strength of relationships, alignment to company goals and overall collaboration.
Orchestrated and hosted the annual summit for over 100 designers from global locations for Newell Brands design. Connected multicultural team members with an interactive day built on reoccurring themes of Trust, Confidence and Focus.
Corporate Engagements
Invited to internal corporate events to lead insight and conversation around innovation, design and creativity.
“Thank you for inspiring us Tim Morton”
David Allan: Director of Design at Stryker Instruments
Amplifying Curiosity….
2019: Director of Collaborative Innovation. World Economic Forum reports that CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING, CRITICAL THINKING AND CREATIVITY are the top three skills needed to thrive in 2020 and beyond. 2019 brought a unique opportunity to join the faculty at the University of Notre Dame and spearhead the mission of normalizing a ‘designers growth mindset’ across interdisciplinary students of all study areas. Formalizing a highly interactive curriculum with cross college collaboration. Design Thinking, Human Centered Design, Design Strategy, Collaboration, Four C’s. Equipping emerging leaders, creators and entrepreneurs with the tools and mindset for making better (human centered, outcome focused) choices for growth in a VUCA world.
Value through
Human-Centered Leadership & Design
Example: Identified the potential of a designers curiosity, nurturing the desire to understand and translate key consumer pain points. Actively built internal advocacy and promoted to company President who immediately emailed a video of the presentation from his smart phone to the CEO.
Calphalon Premier Cookware stole 15% of all brand sales upon launch with an elegant 30% space saving design and protected intellectual property (IP).
The concept was rapidly looped back into Newell’s consumer testing methods and leapfrogged other projects in the pipeline to launch with the innovation subsequently being rolled out over additional sub brands.
2020 Amplifying Curiosity
Thoughts on Creativity, & Collaboration
Defined and delivered career relevant learning for the University of Notre Dame.
Led Breakthrough Brand Partnerships
3 years after the initial concept sketch was presented to the CEO. The LEGO InMotion ultimate family concept vehicle was unveiled at the 2001 NAIAS Auto show based on insights from extensive consumer research, The interior design reflects the company's ability to interpret consumers' needs and translate them into innovative products for families ‘on the go.’
More below….
Humanizing Technologies
Managed deep technology and ethnographic research programs - the first of its kind for Qualcomm focused on imminent convergence of experiences and devices.
The outcome set of clear recommendation for product technologies, architecture, design, feature set and communication strategies.
Published & PR
Authored multiple articles online and in print representing perspectives on creativity, innovation and industry.
I have served as the voice of the company, business segment and design organization throughout my career
Workshop Creation and Facilitation
Led multiple user centered design initiatives and ideation workshops resulting in yet to be launched new products, categories and experiences for the Home Fragrance business.
Framing encompassed the goals of creating meaningful experiences and relationships through the use of new technologies, ensuring the technology integration is unapparent yet enabling vs the focus.
Redefining Rubbermaid @ NeoCon
Broke new territory and raised brand perception within the decorative refuse category for Rubbermaid Commercial Products though exquisite design and leadership winning a presence at NeoCon and in Contract magazine. Built long term relationships with the A&D community to collaborate on events and alignments for future design sensibilities.
#RCP #neocon
Road Map Creation
Pivotal role with in building product road maps based on marketing insights, trend research and user research. Focused new product categories and experiences that aligned with the brand(s). Increased efficiencies but leading teams to identify platforming for development and workflow opportunities to reduce time to market and development costs.
Secured Retailer Confidence
Engaged with national retailers for line reviews and new innovation showcases.
Acquired ~$14MM business with a major mass retailer through leading several rapid cross functional design responses.
Recognized
Recognized within the Newell Brands organization for best in class examples of cross functional leadership and collaboration at all levels focusing on company growth through design and development advancement
Recognized for the leadership of innovation within the Home Fragrance division and for pivotal leadership within Home - through the creation of the new Visual Brand Language and Human Centered Design Strategy for Goody Brands.
Recognition for World Class
Co-developed the recognition program for Newell Brands Global Design footprint and end of year recognition award ceremony. Instilling a culture of recognition across teams and disciplines for world class behaviors, efforts and outcomes.
Thought Leadership
Undertaking thought leadership speaking engagements for national events and internal summits with sharing perspectives and insights on the human centered design journey, beliefs and experiences.
Events have included IDSA International Conference, SolidThinking ‘Converge 2017’ keynote, Newell Brands Global Design Day Summit.
World Class
Recruited to Newell Rubbermaid to help establish design and innovation as a strategic corporate asset at a newly established design and innovation center.
Established highly effective teams with a unified commitment of creating user centered outcomes that transform the human experience for global brands.
Established best in class methods and modes for the cross functional design journey. Collaborated closely with SVP and C level executives to identify opportunities for world class design execution.
Enabled Tactile Experiences - 3D Gorilla Glass
The mobile device industry is thirsty for 3D glass on devices, but why?
Realized 3D and 2.5D Gorilla Glass applications and strategies while working with Corning - the world leader in speciality glass and ceramics, Creative and engineering team leadership. Connecting material technology to the future of mobile devices, human interaction and emotional bonds.
Physical & Digital Experience
Created holistic digital and physical experiences across multiple platforms
Premium Experiences
Secured and increased new client relationships. Led design and development for multiple human centered technology based projects experiences.
“Show us how to create a premium product experience that is small, tough and CEO worthy'“
Shown: Category Award Winning SkyCaddie SGX GPS and Navigation Partner.
MVP creation for investment and advocacy
Led the creation of multiple MVP, proof of concept, technology and user focused builds for internal advocacy and customer engagement.
Picture: LzLabs Desktop Mainframe
App-cessory for SATCOM
Led discovery, design and project management for a breakthrough device that utilizes an iPhone for SATCOM control.
This device replaces 60 lbs of equipment enabling a single vs multiple operatives to effectively perform in the field with little supervision.
Design focus was to enable no to little training with cohesive physical and digital integration. Achieved IP65 durability.
Continued development following acquisition by Harris working creatively across all team disciplines from UX to debugging manufacturing, solving multiple usability, performance and production challenges.
Behind The Scenes
Supported the enormous growth of the tech industry in Austin,TX. Engaged in multiple cutting edge initiatives for start ups and established leaders. Ideation, Industrial design, problem solving, technical innovation, user experience, refinement, visualization, communication.
Proof of Concept Builds
Key contributor on numerous pre-concept builds and layouts of technology for internal proof of concepts, advocacy building and pre-concept design definitions.
Successfully integrated human centered approaches, Usability and visual impact appropriately for storytelling to internal and external leadership.
Manufacturing & Process Creation
Designed forward thinking design soultions to personalized pharma deliver, including custom dosed capsules for a global pharmaceutical manufacturer.
Created accompanying direction for new manufacturing and production processes to increase efficiencies and enable intent within their current manufacturing capabilities.
Co-Founder of Studio, Austin, Tx
Formed of a new branch office for a leading design consultancy with engineering counterpart.
Focused on enabling clients to reach their goals through advanced development that integrated technology, user experience and human centered design. Responsible for team management, creative direction, marketing, client engagements and sales strategies locally and nationally. A wide reaching role that also supported 7 branch offices in addition to HQ.
Rebranding PDT
Pivotal role in defining a new visual language, strategic message and online presence to strengthen the company position in, increasing awareness and traffic.
Internal analysis defined clear company opportunities. Established case study libraries, content guides, managed digital workflow, created copy, mentored remote contributors.
Start Up Business Collaborator: UX / UI / ID
Design lead and project manager for the conceptualization and development of multiple devices for start up brand ‘firefly mobile’.
The first phone for kids. Introduced the first ‘morphing keypad achieved seamless ID/UX integration for parents and children.
Recognized with 2006 Best Of Innovations' Award from Consumer Electronics Association.
Foresight Across Categories
Lead PDT’s first exploratory concept program based on design research, the patient and care givers journey and hands on experiences. Mediwall serves to streamline workflow, increase patient/caregiver trust, reduce disruption and increase collaboration.
Breakthrough For Retail Healthcare
Partnered to collaborate in Human Centered Research and design that identified desires and opportunities for an unconventional approach to gifting healthcare and prepaying for accessible treatment through the use of prepaid cards for BCBS Florida.
Trend Research and Foresight
Contributed in the inaugural meeting with Research In Motion CEO and PDT CEO, this meeting lead to a long term retainer for multiple product development and design services.
Continued to collaborate on R&D efforts to propose new design considerations based upon tangible insights, user research emerging technologies and global trends. 2 years later RIM launched the highly successful BlackBerry Pearl.
Increased Budgets and Scope
Partnered with Qualcomm who responded with deeper programs as result of project Slingshot.
Responsible for the research and development of a breakthrough multimedia development platforms. Leading the team to focus on developing a showcase product that balanced overall user experience, business goals and bench top development requirements for the MSM6550 chipset family.
Giving Back
Honored to have to opportunity to educate and inspire under-served young people through the visual arts at the Marwen Institute,Chicago.
Dedicating time to leading design workshops to draw out passion, talent and process. Enabling a path to further education.
Positive Impact
Positively Influenced multiple key projects in the early stages of research, synthesis and user centered design activities. Encouraging empathy for stake holders, energizing teams and constructively critiquing creative output with the goal of improving overall team performance and client engagements.
Brands include Dell, Swingline, Bretford, Dymo, Kimberly Clark, Cardinal Health, Fenwal, Kyocera, Motorola,
Design for Empowerment
Managed design and key user research contributor for Medela alongside the research director to identify user centered design opportunities. This lead to design definitions for the award winning Freestyle hands free breast pump. Empowering new moms with a new sense of freedom.
Created the overall product experiences, architecture and detailed design of components.
Red Dot Design Award Winner
Aesthetic Language
Created a differentiating consumer relevant and brand specific aesthetic languages.
Example: ‘The Inertia Aesthetic’ and expressive design language for Paper Mate on the worlds first auto advancing pencil.
The aesthetic was translated and adopted across a multitude of Paper Mate writing products becoming the brand language for writing instruments for over 10 years.
Established Design Language
Created Cobra Electronics ‘best seller’ in the highly cost competitive consumer radar detection market. Introduced targeted aesthetics, colors, materials and finishes for a range of multiple SKU’s, Still being capitalized on over 6yrs later. Focused on captivating consumers at retail and complementing lifestyle while in use based on research and market insights.
Increased Workflow & Accuracy
Recruited to join the PDT Chicago team. Relocated from London to Chicago. Enhanced the digital design workflow with 2D and 3D digital tools resulting in major efficiencies during the front end of design process and more immersive presentation materials for clients programs.
Brand Expression & Expansion
Led the development of applying brand attributes of belief, what if ?, wonder, adventure and daydreams to new licensing graphics for application to multiple products while working with the Beanstalk Group and Crayola.
LEGO
‘Fluid Play’
Pioneered the use of new RF technologies from Zowee entertainment to develop the Interactive Travel Journal for the InMotion Vehicle. Bridging the physical and digital experience ‘fluid play’ with the LEGO ‘GoPad’ with tagged elements to control and interact with onscreen environments. Collaborated with LEGO media to develop the application and integrate other proprietary LEGO technology from the LEGO® KidPad technology platform development.
LEGO Brand Guardian
Led a long term California assignment after multiple synthesis and ideation workshops in California and Michigan. Representing The LEGO Group as the brand advocate and concept lead for on the development of the family friendly vehicle with Johnson Controls Inc. and external design consultancies.
Awarded NAIAS Best of Show
Supported the first collaboration between LEGO and Johnson Controls Inc. in the refinement of the ‘Playseat’ 1999 NAIAS best of show.
Conceptualized and introduced LEGO brand values and enhanced play values, developed next gen accessories tying the concept back to core product launches.
LEGO® Wearable Technology in 1999!
Led breakthrough research and development of a new LEGO Wearable Concept — a watch based device that embodied the LEGO brand values of imagination, curiosity, endless play and non conflict. Fluid play between the digital and physical worlds. Using a core ‘brick’ that reacted to movement and manipulation to ‘gamify’ active play and interact with core product. The project was halted due to economic difficulties in 2020.
LEGOTIME® Design lead
New territory for the LEGO Group. Design lead and project manager for the LEGO Groups first full range of engaging customizable watches and clocks. Synthesized the Brand DNA with endless play, multiple outcomes and thematic stories at the forefront of influence. Conceptualized multiple play themes based on research and kid workshops, refined concepts, partnered with engineering and suppliers to prototype and successfully realize design intent. Designed POS, packaging design and marketing collateral with a small team in the UK and Denmark. The watch system has been continually updated annually since first launch.
Engagement with LEGO CEO
Presented the idea of a family focused LEGO branded vehicle interior project to Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen - LEGO CEO and grandson of the company founder.
The concept was based a family focus, encompassing LEGO brand values and user centered design. The idea was given the green light with a strategic partner for development, starting 3 years of development.
Created In-Store Experiences
Designed and developed the first digital interactive in-store experience within LEGO Bluewater, UK - the first flagship store ‘Scan and Surf’. Brought the box to life on screen, collaborated with UX/UI and digital media designers to provide a holistic engaging and informative experience for all ages.
Created Physical and Digital Interfaces
Established new thinking around LEGO Brand extensions with the LEGO Media Group.
Proposed peripherals and themes that were kid friendly and representative of core brand values of endless play.
This relationship later lead to the development of a ‘travel journal’ for installation in the LEGO InMotion Vehicle.
Sketch: Sonia White
LEGO Futura
Conceptualized and executed new play patterns and themes based on observational, trend and market research as part of The LEGO Groups International design team.
Created influential play concepts and new commercial products.
Notable:
LEGO Clickits: 2001 Toy of the Year
LEGO System: Various themes
Multiple Advanced Concepts
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