Tom Peach

Head of Design - Smart Products & Wearables @ EssilorLuxottica

About

ABOUT ME I lead multi-disciplinary teams at the intersection of strategy, design and development, crafting innovative, customer-centered products and experiences that stand out in competitive and emerging markets. My experience spans consumer technology including IoT and wearables, med-tech, FMCG and packaging, and I am deeply committed to creating products that people love while nurturing environments where teams can thrive and be proud of their work. HOW I WORK My approach blends collaboration, design thinking and creative exploration. I embed customer insights into the development process, leveraging market research, iterative ‘test-and-learn’ methods, and usability studies to inform decisions. By balancing strategic clarity with design management, I help teams navigate uncertainty and focus on delivering meaningful, impactful solutions. BRIDGING STRATEGY WITH EXECUTION I have extensive experience leading complex product programs, across trend forecasting, opportunity identification, initial concept design and value propositions, to technical detail for manufacture. My work involves creating alignment with stakeholders in upper management and with teams across strategy, design, tech, engineering, internal and external partners. I thrive on defining competitive advantage, building actionable roadmaps, and shaping strategic product goals that guide teams to success. COLLABORATION & LEADERSHIP In my view, the best products emerge from collaboration and combined perspectives. Working closely with talented teams, I drive compelling product experiences across physical and digital touchpoints, and as a leader, I prioritise mentorship and team development, creating environments where people are empowered to grow and support each other. DESIGNING FOR IMPACT I believe great design does more than just solve today’s problems or ‘pain points’ - it shapes tomorrow’s aspirations. Products that resonate go beyond functionality; they create emotional connections, offer novelty and redefine expectations of how we relate to each other, to technology and to the world. This belief extends to driving sustainability in the design process, pushing for solutions that are not only relevant and grounded in purpose, but also minimise environmental impact. THE BIG PICTURE Throughout my career, I have shaped award-winning products for global tech companies and startups. By integrating strategic vision, thoughtful design, and user insights, I help organizations achieve their goals and set new benchmarks, building business value for scale.

Country

Italy

City

Milan

Industry

Consumer Services

Skill

Design Leadership, Design Management, Director level, Design Team Coordination, Data-driven Decision Making, Technical Product Development, Cross-functional Collaborations, Rationalisation, Multi-functional, Communication, Easily Adaptable, Team Management, Project Management, Teamwork, Workload Prioritization, Product Management, Positioning (Marketing), Critical Thinking, Consumer Products, Competitive Landscape

Experience

Head of Design - Smart Products & Wearables

EssilorLuxottica

2025-7 - Present · 1 yr 3 mos

Milan, Lombardy, Italy

New Product Development Advisor

Ocean Bottle

2022-6 - Present · 4 yrs 4 mos

London, UK

• Supporting the build of a new internal NPD department • Driving compelling company and product visions • Roadmapping new products and services • Support with best-in-class product design • Support for manufacturing and partner strategy • Support for design resources and external agency strategy • Collaborating on product sustainability efforts

Associate Design Director

frog

2022-7 - 2025-7 · 3 yrs 1 mo

Milan, Italy

LEADING CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAMS: • Orchestrating collaboration across strategy, research, design, tech and engineering. DEFINING ROADMAPS & VISIONS: • Developing strategic roadmaps, actionable concept visions with hero features and value propositions. ENSURING DESIGN EXCELLENCE: • Overseeing quality standards and align outputs with end-customer needs and brand goals. DRIVING RESEARCH & INSIGHTS: • Integrating end-user feedback and insights from market research and usability tests into decision-making. FACILLITAITNG COLLABORATION: • Leading workshops and creative activities to align stakeholders and enrich thinking. EMPOWERING TEAMS: • Cultivating a healthy mix of responsibility and resourcefulness within teams. ORCHESTRATING DELIVERY: • Ensuring on-time project delivery while nurturing team harmony. ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS: • Delivering compelling presentations to executives, securing alignment and investment. PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY: • Leading initiatives to embed sustainable practices in product development. BUDGET PLANNING & RESOURCES: • Managing team resources and budgets to maximize efficiency and impact. MENTORSHIP & HIRING MANAGER: • Fostering team growth through coaching, tools, and actionable feedback. DESIGN COMMUNITY LEAD: • Key player in the internal design community, sharing knowledge and driving collective thought.

Senior Lead Designer

frog

2018-6 - 2022-7 · 4 yrs 2 mos

Milan, Italy

• Leading research and design teams • Driving programs with strategic concept visions • Construction of strategic value propositions • Steering ideation and concept design output • Leading user validation cycles with prototypes • Trend analysis and competitor landscaping • Collaborating on team resource/budget management • Lead in product design team recruitment and hiring • Technical design support with developers and engineers • Creating tools to upskill and align development teams • Mentoring with relevant and actionable feedback

Industrial Designer

frog

2015-3 - 2018-6 · 3 yrs 4 mos

Milan, Italy

• User research, insight and opporunity identification • Competitor landscaping and analysis • Ideation and concept design generation • Lifestyle, aesthetic and tech trendspotting • User validation using mock-ups and prototypes • Colour, material, finish exploration • Technical design support with engineers • Final visualisations and presentation narratives

Industrial Designer

DCA Design International

2011-8 - 2015-2 · 3 yrs 7 mos

Warwick, UK

• User research, insight and opporunity identification • Competitor landscaping and analysis • Ideation and concept design generation • User validation using mock-ups and prototypes • Colour, material, finish exploration • Strategic design language systems • Technical design support with engineers • Final visualisations and presentation narratives • Lifestyle, aesthetic and tech trendspotting

Industrial Design Intern

DCA Design International

2009-8 - 2010-8 · 1 yr 1 mo

Warwick, UK

• Conduction of user research, in-field ethnography and insight identification • Supporting teams in ideation, CAD modelling, rendering, and prototypes • Client presentations and workshops

Industrial Design Intern

Alloy - Product Design & Innovation

2009-6 - 2009-8 · 3 mos

Farnham, UK

• Supporting teams in ideation, CAD modelling, rendering, and prototypes • Client presentations and workshops

Education

Loughborough University

Industrial Design and Technology

2007 - 2011 · 4 yrs

The Loughborough Design School is consistently rated as a top University for Art and Design study in the UK. The Industrial Design and Technology course focuses on a highly user-centred approach to design and the creation of beautiful, technically viable products. The course develops skills and ability in the development and communication of ideas, ergonomics, interaction, the techniques of planning and costings, product styling, three dimensional design, materials, processes and the production of prototypes.