Michael Morton

Product and Experience Design Management, Synthesis, and Implementation

    • Past Experience

      Industrial Design Senior Principal

      Dell Inc.

      Worked closely with marketing, engineering, and manufacturing executives and teams to drive strategic product line definition, alignment, segmentation, and optimization across 2 brands, 3 design languages, and over 12 interrelated form factors and accessories in simultaneous development, as well as account for common platform design and experience architecture, standards and best practices. Defined and conducted extensive user research to identify issues and opportunities, as well as definition and design of primary user experience, usability and interaction models, and mechanical architecture, design language and development strategy, etc., from concept through manufacturing implementation. Routinely hired and managed diverse, world-class external and internal design resources across international design centers, in phases from pre-concept through engineering and manufacturing execution.Was awarded Dells first international Best-of-the-Best RedDot design award for the purposeful and elegant integration of common user experience and design elements across the OptiPlex line, and reset competitive industry standards for workstation design with my grounds-up approach to Dell's Precision workstations, driving substantial reactive redesign efforts by our competitors.
      STORAGE
      Senior Design Principle for Dells enterprise storage products, brought in to give strategic and tactical focus to the integration of two substantial acquisitions into Dells storage business. Both acquisitions maintained existing product lines with unique design and user experience features. Worked as the only functional team member with product vision spanning all lines, developing and implementing strategies and tactics for evolution of all products to alignment with Dells iconic enterprise design and user experience language principles. Was the key driver for formulation and wide-spread adoption of enterprise-wide UX standards for product indicators, interaction, touch points, etc.
      OTHER PRODUCTS
      Developed several additional award-winning products for Dell, from pre-concept through manufacturing, including the Studio One, and the All-in-One Business and consumer PC line – a new product category for Dell; launched the Vostro branded line of desktops and notebooks in record time; developed peripherals such as the iconic dell mouse, webcams, and others; developed and refined one of Dells mobile precision workstations.

      Design Manager

      Hewlett-Packard Corp.

      Hired to help manage and expand HP’s server and storage design team based in Houston, Texas, after the merger with Compaq. Developed the vision for a new enterprise design language, leading the full team's involvement from collaborate brainstorming and definition of tenants and attributes, through development to executive presentation and publication of an application-ready vision and principle document. Managed and mentored 2 direct reports on server and tape storage programs. After company-wide cuts shrank the team, I continued work on server programs until the opportunity with Dell came up.

      Senior Industrial Designer

      Sunbeam Products, Inc.

      As one of only 2 designers at Sunbeam, responsible for multiple brands such as Sunbeam, Oster, Mr. Coffee, Health-o-meter, etc., I worked closely with marketing and engineering to develop new product concepts and features, resolving widely varying inputs into coherently designed product lines. In a commodity industry, innovative use of current technology as well as adoption of new technologies was a key part of driving competitive advantage. I selected and directed multiple outside design consultancies to develop and execute design for new products, synthesizing the brand vision and direction into actionable tenants, and closely directing the concept development to successful solutions for the company. My strong experience in tooling, molding, electronics integration, manufacturing and other processes, helped me break down barriers between ID and engineering groups, developing designs that required minimal engineering rework to bring to production.

      Director

      Morton Vaughan Product Design, Hong Kong

      Morton Vaughan provided a much needed service for US companies requiring reliable business assistance in the Far East, and for Asian companies in need of American market and design expertise. At a time when ID was just beginning to be understood and appreciated in Asia, were the first fully expatriate-staffed design firm in Hong Kong.
       
      In addition to Industrial Design work, mainly in consumer electronics, projects included acquisition and management of US engineering resources, as well as acquisition and management of Asian sourcing, molding, and production for US based clients. Worked extensively with clients manufacturing telephones, fax machines, home audio, appliances, and personal wireless electronics. Regularly traveled between the US and Asia on business.
       
      I was responsible for strategy, day-to-day management, business development, and customer liaison, as well as design input and project management. Depending on the project, I guided the development of products from concept design through engineering and tooling, to manufacturing. I successfully built relationships with local and international companies such as AT&T Consumer Products Group, General Electric, and Craig Consumer Electronics.
       
      An important component of my work was my cross-cultural experience in effectively resolving design, engineering, and manufacturing problems unique to the international environment. I regularly worked with my clients and their customers at levels ranging from the factory floor to top executive management. As most products we developed were bound for US markets, we closely monitored design integrity throughout the process, as well as helped to keep costs down for our clients. Accomplishing this involved setting up and managing project teams across all appropriate divisions of the client - in some cases for the first time for them - as well as bridging the gap between US based marketing groups and Asian engineering and manufacturing resources.

      Senior Design Lead

      S.Megga Ltd.,

      Smoothline Ltd., Hong Kong

      Provided in-house Industrial Design competency for these Hong Kong based telecommunications OEM Manufacturers, designing consumer and SMB wireless telephones, fax machines, answering machines, and other products for ATT, BellSouth, Brondi, and other western telecoms customers. Responsible for translating customer designs to production, generating original product designs, and packaging design implementation.