Tim Allen

Tim Allen is the Global Head of Design and Research at Instacart, where he leads a multidisciplinary team focused on creating inclusive and accessible experiences that empower people to enjoy food and save time. His leadership emphasizes the importance of design in fostering human potential and building cultures that inspire excellence. Tim is also passionate about design thinking and frequently speaks and teaches at schools and events across the country.

Previously, Tim served as the Vice President of Design at Airbnb, leading the global product design team with a focus on inclusivity and human-centered design. Before that, he held significant roles at Microsoft and Amazon, including Partner at Microsoft Design and Executive Creative Director at Amazon, where he led the design of products like Echo, Fire TV, and Kindle. At R/GA, he played a pivotal role in the development of Nike+, Nike Training Club, and Nike.com, projects that have set benchmarks in connected brand experiences.

Tim's work has garnered numerous accolades, including multiple Cannes Cyber Lions, D&AD, ANDY, Webby, and One Show awards. He was named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business for 2017 and was featured in Creativity magazine’s 2013 Creativity 50 list of the year's most inspiring and influential creative figures.

A graduate of North Carolina State University with a Master of Industrial Design and a Bachelor of Art and Design, Tim has also contributed to the design community as an adjunct professor at the School of Visual Arts and a visiting design professor at NC State.