Paving Paths From Spray Cans to Tech Giants - E45

Making things with your hands can shape and enhance digital design skills in unexpected ways. This week, Rei talks with Tim Allen, VP of Design at Instacart to trace Tim’s career journey from game design to leading roles at tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Airbnb. They explore Tim's early influences, including his unique entry into design through airbrushing and graffiti, and discuss his strategies for success as a minority in tech. Key themes include resilience, the value of hands-on creativity, and the importance of looking ahead to embrace new opportunities.

Tim Allen was named one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business for 2017. He leads the global Design & Research team at Instacart, centered on belonging and connection. His focus on fueling human potential is key to building products and cultures that inspire people to do their best work. Prior to Instacart, Tim led Airbnb’s global Design team, Microsoft's Experiences & Devices design practice and Amazon's Product Design Studio as Executive Creative Director leading the experience design for Alexa, FireTV, and Kindle products. Tim also shaped the vision for Experience Design at R/GA, whose Nike work established the future of connected experiences for brands. Through innovative work with Adobe, Red Hat, and IBM, Tim holds seven patents related to software design, ranging from chat interface modeling to mobile device synchronization.

Timestamps:

• 0:03 Exploring Design's Role in Tech with Tim Allen
• 3:27 Pioneering Design Careers in Big Tech
• 4:43 From Game Design to Corporate Innovation at IBM
• 10:01 Design Leadership Across Tech Giants and Creative Agencies
• 11:32 From Graffiti to Design: Embracing Uniqueness in Art Education
• 16:41 Navigating Unknown Territories and Embracing Creative Problem Solving
• 21:18 Three Takeaways

Episode References:

• Tim Allen | LinkedIn
• Rei Inamoto | Instagram
• Rei Inamoto | X
• I&CO | Corporate Site

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