He believes that it is an incredibly exciting and opportune time to be a designer of these kinds of experiences. People are connected and empowered to create like never before. The best and brightest are hungry to make meaning and substance. The line between living things and made things has disappeared. Physical and digital have merged. 3D printing is the new desktop publishing.
David’s recent focus has been on leading IDEO’s global Health & Wellness practice, building our capabilities to engage with radical new opportunities for impact in this sector. The healthcare ecosystem has reached the point where innovation is a necessity. At the same time a number of game-changing technologies have arrived. IDEO’s human-centered approach to design helps our clients make a difference for patients, people in their lives, professionals and organizations.
Recent favorite projects include reinventing the Pilates machine with Balanced Body, helping Ekso Bionics as they enable paralyzed people to stand up and walk, and empowering people to own their health decisions with Scanadu.
David’s previous roles include leading and growing IDEO’s San Francisco office and building relationships with a diverse array of clients from consumer sector blue-chips to tech startups.
Before IDEO, he designed Yamaha motorcycles with GK in Tokyo, invented new food products with WhatIf in London and built new factories in Unilever Europe.
A mechanical engineer and industrial designer by training, with degrees from Edinburgh University and the Royal College of Art, David is still happiest when building and sketching. He is irrationally drawn to anything with wheels on it. A native of Scotland, David now lives in Northern California with his wife and two young children.
