Product Design & Innovation

Sean McDowell

Twenty years designing products that reshape markets — from Nike performance footwear to sustainable workplace design at MillerKnoll. Work in the Smithsonian. Work in MoMA.

Current Role

SVP, Innovation & Sustainability

MillerKnoll · Holland, Michigan

Education

Carnegie Mellon University

Dean's List · Track & Field Captain · GPA 3.74

Also Founder

Fountain Design & Innovation

Winchester, MA

Beyond the Office

Bronze Medalist, USA Masters Track & Field

400 Meter Hurdles

55
U.S. Utility & Design Patents
5
Red Dot International Design Awards
9
Shoe Dog Awards for Footwear Innovation
24K
LinkedIn Followers

Core Expertise

Design that moves products into culture.

From consumer insight to the shelf — a rare discipline that bridges qualitative research, creative vision, and engineering execution without losing the thread of what people actually want.

  • Consumer Insights & Research 20+ years
  • Product Design & Engineering 55 patents
  • Brand Vision & Leadership Nike · Converse · Sperry
  • Innovation Strategy $1.5B growth led
  • Sustainable Materials & Processes MillerKnoll
  • Performance Product Development Olympics · Sub-2 Marathon
  • Managing Innovation & AI Strategy Certified 2024

Career

A record built across the industry's most demanding stages.

From early immersion in Tokyo's design culture to global leadership at Nike — each role has added a distinct layer to a practice built on creativity, rigor, and market fluency.

2022 — Present
SVP, Innovation & Sustainability
MillerKnoll
Leading next-generation workplace design across healthcare, hybrid environments, gaming experiences, and sustainable material development. Exploring new business opportunities that redefine how people live and work.
2017 — 2022
SVP, Product Creation
Sperry Top-Sider
Rebuilt Sperry's creative vision from the ground up — restoring the brand's nautical heritage while driving modern product innovation across footwear and apparel categories.
2008 — 2017
VP, Design & Innovation
Nike
Led Nike's largest division, growing annual revenue from $3.9B to $5.4B. Originated VaporMax, Flyknit, Flywire, Nike Free, Aeroloft Vest, and the Sub-2 Marathon Project. Led design for the Beijing Olympics.
2002 — 2008
Design Leadership
Converse
Contributed to transforming Converse into a global cultural icon following the Nike acquisition — through product-led storytelling and strategic design partnerships.
Ongoing
Founder
Fountain Design & Innovation
Boutique consultancy helping growth-focused companies find and capture new markets through consumer-driven innovation, strategic product design, and engineering excellence.

Recognition & Collections

Red Dot International Design Awards

Five Red Dot awards for product design excellence — among the most competitive design competitions in the world, recognizing the highest standard of quality, function, and creative impact.

Smithsonian Institution & MoMA

Products in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institution and the Museum of Modern Art. Recognition that the work has crossed from commerce into culture — and will remain there.

Shoe Dog Awards & Patent Portfolio

Nine Shoe Dog Awards for footwear innovation alongside 55 U.S. Utility and Design Patents — a documented record of original invention across materials, construction methods, and form.

Let's talk about
what's next.

Based In

Holland, Michigan

Consulting Via

Fountain Design & Innovation

Connect

linkedin.com/in/sean-mcdowell

Connect on LinkedIn