IXDS – based in Munich and Berlin – has built up a strong offering in the connected living area, working on projects ranging from smart kitchen robots to gesture controlled speakers, for clients such as Google, BSH, Siemens and Vaillant. This is why they’re pleased to welcome Sanne, who has over 10 years’ creative director experience and accolades including winning a Red Dot Award (2014), and a Golden IF Communication Design Award (2015) as part of the Fabrique agency team behind the Allerhande Cooking app. He’ll be able to further expand IXDS’ capabilities in this rapidly growing field.
“Connected living is quite a new field, which makes it really interesting. There’s still so much to explore. I’m looking forward to getting creative at IXDS, and working with them on products and services that make a difference and have meaning in people’s lives,” Sanne says.
In addition, IXDS is also strengthening its strategy initiatives, with Simon coming on board to support the team in the newly created role of Director of Business Design.
“My role is to design solutions that balance the value we create for the user with the value we create for the business. To help our clients design their future, we have to combine business with design and create value on both sides,” Simon explains.
Simon brings a broad skillset that enables him to balance the value of innovation at both levels – the user, and the business of clients. He recently returned to Germany after spending 16 years in Australia where he founded multi-award winning communications agency PLAY. This experience, in addition to a 17-year career in creative and strategic positions working for for clients such as Volkswagen, Adobe, Mini and Sony, has enabled him to build up a strong understanding of the the complexities of decision making at business level.
IXDS CEO Nancy Birkhölzer says, “We’re very excited to have both Sanne and Simon on board. Together they bring another layer of strategic thinking to IXDS, looking at brands holistically to anchor the brand purpose in a sustainable and viable product- and service-offering.”