Hello! 🍍
I'm Ian Moritz
Currently, I am a Product Manager at American Express
I work with a talented team of engineers, designers, and business strategist to create digital customer experiences for American Express's Membership Rewards program.
Perviously, I worked for Plenti
Plenti is American Express's internal startup. It is a fast-growing loyalty coalition with 40+ million active members and partners like Macy's, Rite Aid, ATT, and Exxon. Plenti is changing the way merchants engage with customer loyalty.
As an analyst, I answer questions about how the business is doing and where it is going.
I also lead design thinking initiatives across American Express.
Design thinking is a human-centered innovation process. I brought design thinking methods and mindsets to over 250 American Express employees. I also provide guidance to help teams prepare and lead design sprints. Lately, I have been interested in best practices to bring about innovation and creativity in teams.
If you would like a design thinking session for your team please contact me.
Previously, I worked for the Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
I facilitated and designed experiential learning experiences that brought design thinking and lean startup to core curriculum classes. I also coached teams as they developed products, services, and experiences.
The Academy's mission is to infuse the University of Maryland's culture with innovation. We do this by empowering students to solve real-world problems with an entrepreneurial mindset. You can read about the progress in the annual report.
Additionally...
I interned for Surprise Ride which was my first experience in designing products for customers who were unlike myself– children ages 6-11 and mothers.
I earned a Six Sigma Green Belt certification for consulting with NASA at the Goddard Space Flight Center. I worked on processes optimization and variability reduction in the Thin Films Lab.
I have also launched my own products
1// PrideShorts
Founded and led a business that produced fashion grade collegiate apparel. Awarded seed money in business competitions, sourced global manufacturer, delivered products to hundreds of customers.
2// The Lockershelf Company
Highest quality lockershelf product line on the market. Co-developer and co-patent holder of innovative locker shelf design.
I explore new technologies. Here are a few examples...
I used the Amazon Dash Button to share water
Inspired by a virtual reality experience I wondered "how might I share water across continents"? I reconfigured an Amazon Dash button to donate water instead of ordering Mentos.
I used the Internet of Things to send emotion
What excites me most about the Internet of Things is how it enables emotional experiences across distances. I wondered "how might I send a feeling across the internet"? I built an Internet of Things flower that blooms and offers a message to the receiver.
Particle Photon, 3D Printing
I used a microprocessor to sync lighting with the sun's cycle
How might I feel more connected to the natural world? I built a seven bulb lighting system that synced with the sun's solar cycle to cast light in my room as if the sun was moving across my ceiling.
Arduino Uno
Miscellaneous Makings
A list of a lot of little things. Jump to...
Lasercut nametags
3D empathy matters
E Pluribus Unum
A twitter bot
Fancy credit card
Whimiscal notification
String mural
Book light
Another twitter bot
Light orb
My card
Lasercut nametags for Amex for Developers design sprint (August 2017)
3D Printed Mantra. File here. (April 2016)
A twitter bot that converts the weather to sweaters and offers forecasts. Writeup here. Tweet to @Sweaters_Today with your location enabled. (July 2016)
A pointillism laser cut mural for Martin Luther King Day. File here. (January 2018)
A ~premium~ credit card (NFC chip embeded)(March 2017)
A device that replaces calendar notifications with actual bubbles. Writeup here (September 2017)
NYC tied together. 753 pins 7ft x 10ft. (September 2016)
A reading light. Materials here. (November 2016)
A twitter bot that checks and corrects the President's spelling. Code here. Summary here. (January 2017)
A self supporting light orb. (August 2016)
Let's stay in touch. (January 2015)
I graduated from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.
I was awarded two senior awards, the H.C. Byrd Citizenship Award and membership to the Maryland Medallion Society.
My hope is that you have a better sense of who I am through what I have created. Curiosity drives my experiences. Areas that I enjoy exploring are: :: empathizing with end users :: finding and defining new business opportunities :: creating new products, services, and experiences :: leading people and organizations to be more innovative
Contact
- Email: Moritz.Ian@gmail.com
- Location: New York, NY
Ian's fun facts...
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I broke a world record for most high fives
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I appeared on ABC's Beyond the Tank
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I told a joke on The Late Show