Max Burton is a globally recognized design leader with over 35 years of experience driving innovation across products, connected devices, and large-scale experiences. He has held executive roles at Smart Design, frog, Fjord, and Accenture, where he led multidisciplinary teams and helped shape iconic, industry-defining work.
As Creative Director at Nike, Max helped create Nike+. In 2012 he founded Matter, a design firm focused on connected products, delivering innovations like the Auris Surgical Robot and the Carnival Medallion Experience. After Matter was acquired by Accenture in 2017, he served as Managing Director of the Connected Products and Spaces Group.
Max later founded Industrial Craft, specializing in MedTech and medical robotics. In April 2025, he joined IDEO as Managing Director of the San Francisco studio, leading the company’s West Coast hub.
His work has earned global design awards, numerous patents, and has been exhibited at MoMA, the London Design Museum, and Cooper Hewitt. A graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University and the Royal College of Art, Max is a frequent speaker, writer, and educator in the design community. He also serves on the board of the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA).
Contact: max.burton@mac.com