San Francisco, CA ∙ (415) 374 0376 ∙maarten.dinger@gmail.com∙linkedin.com/in/maarten-dinger-238a302/
An accomplished product design leader with 25+ years of experience developing innovative hardware and connected products across consumer electronics, medical devices, wearables, IoT, and health technology. Proven track record leading multidisciplinary teams from concept through production, applying systems thinking to create elegant, user-centered products that balance business objectives, technical feasibility, and exceptional user experiences. Holder of 20+ design patents and recipient of internationally recognized design awards. A strategic thinker with strong product management capabilities. Holds a Master’s degree in Advanced Industrial/Product Design from the Institute of Design, Umeå University.
Professional Experience
PRINCIPAL DESIGNER ∙ 10/2025 - Present
Confidential Product Innovation Venture, San Francisco, CA
Define product vision, system architecture, and technical roadmap.
Develop end-to-end hardware product from concept through functional prototype.
Integrate industrial design, engineering, rapid prototyping, and manufacturing strategy throughout product development.
Validate product performance through iterative prototyping, testing, and design refinement.
FRACTIONAL LEADER & ADVISOR / INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER ∙ 04/2025 - Present
Independent Consulting, San Francisco, CA
Deliver transformative product innovation to companies and startups, particularly early-stage hardware ventures, ensuring solutions align with impactful missions and market needs.
Translate intricate user requirements into market-ready designs, managing projects from initial ideation through final production.
Develop product strategy and concept direction for physical product experiences, delivering elegant, user-focused designs for diverse consumer and healthcare markets.
Clients: Samay Health, Ceribell, Element Science.
HEAD OF DESIGN & UX ∙ 01/2014 – 03/2025
Element Science Inc., San Francisco, CA (Startup)
Recruited as founding member to create the product vision for a new wearable therapeutic device, helping secure $40M in Series A funding alongside the founder.
Honored with the Red Dot Award in 2024 for the Jewel Patch Wearable Defibrillator.
Led end-to-end product and experience development of the Jewel wearable system, including industrial design, physical and digital UX, engineering collaboration, prototyping, usability testing, packaging, and commercialization, managing budgets up to $1.2M.
Defined the product vision and design language across hardware, digital experiences, accessories, packaging, and patient touchpoints to create a cohesive end-to-end user experience.
Guided a multidisciplinary 6-person R&D team, driving collaboration across engineering, clinical, regulatory, and product management while prioritizing design intent, usability, and patient needs.
Led a team of 3 UI/UX professionals, working alongside Clinical Team conducting studies with 250+ participants to define and optimize the patient journey.
Improved human factors, workflows, and Instructions for Use (IFU), supporting FDA approval and commercial launch of the Class 3 medical wearable device.
CREATIVE ADVISOR | CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER ∙ 02/2017 – 04/2020
Ambulant, Bend, OR (Partime | Remote)
Secured $700K funding to develop innovative ergonomic tablet cases for arthritis sufferers and mobile users.
Drove product design development with Engineering team, bringing products for expanding iPad range to Market.
Advised on product development, CMF, marketing, and vendor coordination in the US and Asia.
PRINCIPAL DESIGNER & DESIGN MANAGER ∙ 06/2010 – 12/2013
Studio M, Design Consultancy, San Francisco, CA
Executed and collaborated on design programs for top global brands and startups alike.
Directed end-to-end product development from research and concept generation through engineering, prototyping, manufacturing, and production.
Supervised design teams of 2–5 members, providing leadership and creative direction across multiple client programs.
Delivered consumer electronics, connected devices, and healthcare products to market through close collaboration with engineering partners.
Clients: Google, Nike Retail, Logitech, HTC, HP, Gear4, and Ambulant.
SENIOR GUEST LECTURER ∙ 08/2013 – 01/2014
California College of Art, San Francisco, CA
Taught 12 classes per semester on design process and theory to first-year Industrial Design students, with an average class size of 16.
Customized the curriculum to emphasize design strategy, teamwork, and critical thinking, guiding students in understanding design challenges and developing elegant solutions.
Integrated Design Theory concepts to highlight the importance of creating contextually relevant and problem-solving products.
Empowered students to transform initial ideas into fully realized physical concepts by teaching the creative process, key design steps, and the effective application of tools and skills.
Instructed students in various presentation styles and techniques to effectively communicate their process from research to final concept.
SENIOR DESIGNER/ ASSOCIATE DESIGN DIRECTOR ∙ 11/2005 – 05/2010
Smart Design LLC, San Francisco, CA
Supervised Industrial Design team, managing resources and mentoring multidisciplinary designers to deliver innovative, production-ready products across multiple concurrent programs.
Delivered products across consumer electronics, robotics, home products, and connected hardware for Logitech, HP, Clorox, OXO, Flip Video, and Neato Robotics, partnering closely with engineering, product management, and manufacturing teams from concept through production.
Contributed to establishing Flip as the #1 camcorder brand in the U.S., helping scale the organization from 25 to over 250 employees while delivering more than 7 million units sold in four years.
The Flip product family received the IDEA "Design of the Decade" Award (2010), and the company's success culminated in its $590M acquisition by Cisco in 2009.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER ∙ 11/1999 – 10/2005
NPK Design, The Netherlands
Supported multiple projects as core designer with budgets up to ~$1.5M, spearheading effective coordination and results-driven solutions for brands including: Dell, Miele, Honeywell, Tacx, and Skil.
Established as in-house specialist for strong archetypal ideation and creating technically simple solutions to complex and demanding goals.
Worked on a team of 21 designers and 15 engineers to create designs in various markets, including medical, professional, and consumer products.
Performed all tasks pertaining to research, concept design, and development & prototyping work.
Worked with engineering teams to ensure successful implementation of industrial designs and solutions.
Education
MASTER OF ARTS – Advanced Product Design
Umeå Institute of Design | Umeå, Sweden
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE – Industrial Design, Honors
Napier University | Edinburgh, UK
Recognition
Red Dot (healthcare) – Jewel Patch Wearable Defibrillator
Red Dot (4 times - consumer) – Beertender, Miele, Dell Keyboard, Tacx.
IDEA ’Design of the Decade’ (Gold: Consumer Electronics) – Flip video camcorder family
IDEA (Gold) – Flip video camcorder
Spark (Gold) – Flip video Ultra camcorder
IF (4 times - consumer) – Beertender - Heineken Mobile Tap, Art by Miele Vacuum cleaner, Dell Keyboard, Flip Mino HD,
GIO (3 times - consumer) – Tacx ErgoTrainer, Jensen Eden Bed, De Jong Duke.
Core Skills
Product Design & Industrial Design
Physical UX & Human-Centered Design
Hardware Product Development
Product Strategy & Innovation
Brand Development
Cross-Functional Leadership
Mechanical Design
Engineering Collaboration
Rapid Prototyping
Design for Manufacturing (DFM)
3D Surface Modeling, CAD & CMF
Consumer Electronics & Medical Devices
Product Commercialization