# Dan Judkins > Product, Design & Innovation Leader (Consultant/Advisor/Mentor) Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/danjudkins I’m a Product Design Executive with 20+ years of experience creating innovative physical and digital products, platforms, and experiences. I specialize in leading multidisciplinary teams, shaping strategy, and delivering commercially successful, user-centric solutions across consumer, tech, and entertainment industries. An award-winning leader in technology-driven design, I’ve guided products from insight and concept through launch and live operations—consistently balancing creativity, execution, and business impact. My expertise spans product development, design management, UX, brand building, and cross-functional leadership, with a strong track record of fostering high-performing teams and driving growth. More recently, I’ve expanded into venture work, board roles, and early-stage startups, including in the conversational AI space. Focus areas: AI & LLMs, IoT, hardware/software integration, Spatial Computing (AR/MR), mobile applications & games, digital platforms, consumer products, smart toys, and brand development. ## Work Experience ### Chief Product Officer - Founding team @ bondu Jan 2024 – Present | San Francisco Bay Area Shaping and delivering product ecosystem for an AI companion for kids. Responsible for Product Management, Design Leadership, Brand Development and Operations. ### Director, Board of Trustees @ V2 Studios Jan 2025 – Present ### VP Innovation | Digital & Connected Products @ Newell Brands Jan 2022 – Jan 2024 | San Francisco Bay Area Established & led a lean cross-functional team (Product Management, Software Engineering, UX Design and Content) building a technology based strategic innovation roadmap. Pioneered physical, digital and hybrid product, service, and experience development for Newell’s flagship brands including Sharpie and Graco. ● Led projects from consumer research and concept generation through to execution. ● Initiated & developed an app-based content learning platform for aspiring artists. ● Launched a web-based platform for kids under Elmer’s brand bringing +250K users per week. ● Partnered with Walmart prototype & test an in-store spatial computing shopping experience. ● Identified and facilitated corporate venture investment in AI based digital writing start-up. ● Conducted research, Prototyping and development in Spatial Interaction, AI, and IOT. ### Chief Product Officer @ Willow Innovations, Inc. Jan 2020 – Jan 2022 | Mountain View, California, United States Leadership of Product Management, R&D, Engineering and Product Design functions with ownership of the product strategy & roadmap across hardware, connected software and digital. Led the insight-driven evolution of both product and feature roadmaps as Willow transformed from a one product platform to a multi-product brand. ● Supervised the development & launch a new more affordable smart breast pump, Willow Go. ● Collaborated on the introduction of stage-gate process to drive alignment and decision making. ● Launched new features to enhance the existing pump platform (including Apple Watch control). ● Established a Digital Content Platform providing expert guidance and services for new mothers. ● Introduced 5 new accessories designed to enhance the consumer experience & increase LTV. ### VP Design & Development | Integrated Play & Strategic Brands @ Hasbro Jan 2014 – Jan 2020 | Greater Boston Area Directed & scaled a cross-functional product development division (45+ FTE’s) responsible for creating, developing, and launching new brands, interactive & robotic products, digital platforms, and immersive play experiences. Responsible for all development disciplines and deliverables including Industrial, UI/UX & game design, Production & Project management, Software & Hardware engineering, Brand Design, Technology incubation, Analytics and Publishing & Partnerships. ● Oversaw development & Launch of over 25 interactive branded play products. ● Achieved a 10x increase in team revenue contributions through strategic product introductions. ● Partnered with Apple to successfully launch 2 interactive products into the Apple Retail Store. ● Established and managed satellite innovation hubs in 4 global geographies (US, UK, Hong Kong). ● Developed and launched 'Beyblade Burst' mobile game achieving over 50M installs and 1M MAU's. ● Winner of 2021 both 'Toy Of The Year' and 'Innovative Toy Of The Year' awards. ### Sr. Director Design | Integrated Play & Mobile Games @ Hasbro Jan 2011 – Jan 2014 | Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States Established a new design & innovation group focused on creating and developing app-connected play experiences for Hasbro’s brands and it's strategic partners (including Disney & Rovio). Drove excellence in 3D product, character & content design, and mobile app interactivity. ● Led the development of highly successful Furby 'A Mind of its own' launch in 2012 selling 4M units. ● Expanded the brand with FURBY BOOM & FURBLINGS growing it to Hasbro's second biggest (2014) ● TELEPODS: Carried out original pitch to Lucasfilm and Rovio including directing of creative and strategic vision for the line. Drove the technical solution that fulfilled the promise and delivered a seamless and dynamic scanning experience for the consumer leading to 1 Million units being sold in first month of launch. ● Operated as Hasbro's MIT Media Lab liaison - identifying partnership and fellowship opportunities. ### Sr. Director Design | Playskool @ Hasbro Jan 2008 – Jan 2011 | Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States Managed a design team delivering technology & mechanical innovation for Hasbro’s preschool business. ● Co-created Rescue Bots (Longest running Transformers TV show & product line) generating $280M ● Launched ALPHIE Learning robot system (Nominated for Educational toy of the year 2009) ● Collaborated with Sesame Workshop to design & launch 3 Sesame Street interactive learning toys. ### Director Design - Big Kids @ Hasbro Jan 2005 – Jan 2008 | Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States Managed a small team of designers working on numerous Tween (9-12) focused, fashion oriented electronic products and brands. ● Grew iDog from a product into a +$40M lifestyle brand through product evolutions over 4 years. ● Co-invented POWER TOUR electronic touch-sensitive guitar that taught kids power chords. ● Led the design of ToothTunes Jr. an electronic toothbrush that played music in the Childs head. ● Responsibility for product design and development of the VIDEONOW XP video and game system. ● Converted consumer insights and understanding into electronic lifestyle products incl. MiO Pup. ### Product Design Manager - Tiger Electronics @ Hasbro Jan 2002 – Jan 2005 | Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States Led a lean team of Industrial Designers developing interactive & electronic toys. ● Co-invented iDog the first iPod connected toy, a companion for kids to share their music with. ● Developed a full line of interactive toys for the NeoPets license that interacted with the web game. ● Co-invented and designed a kids music player that allowed them to rip music from any audio source. ● Invented a new tween communication system that enabled kids to text, call and video chat via RF. ### Product Manager | New Brands @ Tiger Electronics, LLC Jan 2001 – Jan 2002 | Chicago, Illinois, United States Re-located to Tiger Electronics head office to spear-head new innovation and product development. ### Product Manager | International @ Tiger Electronics UK Ltd Jan 2000 – Jan 2001 | Harrogate, England, United Kingdom - Led new product development of Electronic learning toys for BBC's Tweenies brand managing 3D design, script development, voice recording, flowcharts and packaging. - Led UK and EU market research projects to share back to US Head Office to inform new product development. - Managed design, set up and running of Tiger Electronics Nuremburg Toyfair stand including recruiting and training demonstrators and product sample coordination. ### Marketing Assistant | International @ Tiger Electronics UK Ltd Jan 1998 – Jan 2000 | Harrogate, England, United Kingdom - Managing supply of marketing materials and product samples to international markets and distributors. - Localizing US developed product (Product graphics, Speech and LCD art and Packaging and Instructions) for international markets. - Preparation of sales materials for trade shows. ## Education ### BA (Hons) in Industrial Design University of Leeds ### Foundation degree in Art & Design HCA (Hereford College Of Arts) ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danjudkins --- Source: https://flows.cv/danjudkins JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/danjudkins/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13