Hi there!

I'm Marta—a Product and Innovation Manager dedicated to advancing innovation through systems thinking and digital transformation, shaping user-centered solutions that bridge physical products and digital experiences.

Over the past decade, I've worked with companies like Beiersdorf, Tonies, SAP Fioneer, and Bosch, developing global innovation and sustainability strategies and launching services such as the NIVEA shower gel refill station—recognized as a National German Sustainability Award finalist and celebrated by Fast Company and Designboom. At Beiersdorf, I led initiatives integrating circular design and decarbonization efforts in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and UNEP.

My journey into product innovation started early. While studying Industrial Design in Berlin, I developed and sold my first patent at 22, igniting my passion for creating scalable, user-driven solutions. After six years working as a design engineer and industrial ecologist, I transitioned from focusing on the *how* to defining the *what*. At the Royal College of Art, I immersed myself in experience design, value proposition development, business model innovation, and change management. During this time, I created Unify, a university project in collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlement Program. Designed as an “Upwork for civil servants,” Unify connects governments with subject matter experts to accelerate smart city development. The platform was showcased at COP28 in Dubai, earning recognition from Prototypes for Humanity, a nomination for the UX Design Awards.

Building on this foundation, I pursued further studies at Imperial College London, where I had the privilege of learning from one of my greatest influences, Professor Steve Blank, in the course “Wicked Problems, Systems Dynamics, and Entrepreneurial Innovation.” This experience deepened my expertise in systemic thinking and lean customer development principles. Later, I was honored to mentor in the second London batch of the course, learning from thought leaders like Alexander Osterwalder. More recently, my selection for the Y Combinator Startup School UK 2024 has expanded my product development expertise, offering the opportunity to learn live from visionary leaders such as Paul Graham for a day.

Beyond my corporate and academic work, I served as a Sustainability Jury Member for the Pentawards, the world’s leading packaging design award, joining jurors from companies such as Google, Meta, and Netflix to recognize groundbreaking work in circularity and sustainable packaging. I was also invited to speak at the Pentawards Festival at the Science Museum in London, where I shared my Circular Economy approaches alongside members of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Today, as a Senior Product Manager at Tonies, I drive product innovation that goes beyond features and functionality—creating seamless, user-centric experiences that deliver real value. I merge technology, design, and business strategy to advocate for the user and business needs while ensuring scalable, high-impact solutions and financially sound, research- and data-driven GTM strategies.

I believe that a little bit of fun, agile collaboration, and an endlessly curious STEAM-led mindset can lead to breakthrough innovations. 😊

Resume

Royal College of Art - MA Service Design
University of Applied Sciences Berlin - BA Industrial Design
Imperial College London - MBA Electives

Y Combinator - Start Up School Europe 2024 (one day but still fun!)

D.MBA - Business Design and Strategy

Ellen MacArthur Foundation - From Linear to Circular London

Google - UX Design

University of Michigan - UX Research

Central Saint Martins / UAL - Digital Illustration

Future Training - MCAD Solidworks

Work Experience

Tonies - Senior Product Manager

Bosch - Product Manager

SAP Fioneer - Service Designer

Beiersdorf

  • Sustainability Manager - Product Innovation

  • Global Technology Specialist

  • Packaging Engineering Specialist - Prototyping & Innovation

  • Post-Graduate Packaging Innovation Intern

Colorfy - Junior Product Design Manager

www.marta-suslow.com - Freelance Designer


Awards

UX Design Awards - Nominee - Unify / Prototypes for Humanity - Nominee - Education, Cities and Communities - "Unify" / Imperial College London - Entrepreneurial Journey 22/23 - Grand Challenge Prize - Winner for "TerraWise" / Imperial College London - Wicked Acceleration Labs - Deep Tech Acceleration Week - Second Place for "OverHerd" / Fast Company - 2021 Innovation by Design Award - Honoree - Retail Innovation / Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis 2022 (The National German Sustainability Award) - Finalist - Design / ADF Innovation Awards 2021 - Winner - Industrial and Technical Innovations / Designboom - TOP 10 Social Impact Stories 2020 / MUSE Design Award 2020 - Gold Winner - Packaging Design / Packaging Europe - The Sustainability Awards 2020 - Winner - Reader's Award / Packaging Innovations London - 30 under 30 / Packaging of the World - Top 50 Packaging Design Innovations 2015 / ArtDesign Feldkirch/POTENTIALe - LAVA Design Award - Nominee - Newcomer

Mentorship and Expert Roles

Stanford University CS 177 Human-Centered Product Management - Academic Mentor / Imperial College London Wicked Problems, Systems Dynamics and Entrepreneurial Innovation - Academic Mentor / PENTAWARDS - Sustainable Design - Jury Member

Exhibitions & Speaker

Prototypes for Humanity / COP 28, Dubai, 2023 / Science Museum London, London, 2022, on “Circular Economy” / Bundespreis EcoDesign Berlin, 2021 / ArtDesign Feldkirch/Potentiale Austria, 2015 / Werkschau at the University of Applied Sciences Berlin, 2015 / DMY Berlin, 2015 / Werkschau at the University of Applied Sciences Berlin, 2014 / Packplay Montreal, Canada, 2014 / Nürnberg Messe Germany, 2014 / Werkschau at the University of Applied Sciences Berlin, 2013 / Freedom Exhibition at NHow Gallery Berlin 2013, for mandalah and Bayer

Patents

Filling device and method for filling containers - WO/2021/083662 · filed / H2O Tea by Induction - DE 402015204441-0001 · 29. Jan. 2016 / Butter Plus - OO Design 402013200188-0001 · 9. Jan. 2014

A panel discussion at the Pentawards Festival about designing for a circular economy, with four people seated on stage and a large screen displaying event details.
Two men in suits stand at a conference table on a stage with a large screen behind them displaying speakers' portraits and names, with green-themed graphics and the event hashtag #DNP14.
Four women seated in armchairs on a stage with a purple-lit backdrop, engaged in a panel discussion. A small table with water bottles and papers is in the center.
Group of eight people holding a large check in front of a green moss wall with a large blue and white letter B.
German newspaper article titled "Kosmetik fürs Klima" discussing eco-friendly cosmetics, featuring photos of four people, a product image of Nivea Creme Soft, and images of three cosmetic bottles.
A woman with long brown hair, smiling, holding a small teal container in her right hand, dressed in a white sweater, standing against a plain background.
A smiling woman with blonde hair on the cover of a magazine, with text in German highlighting various articles.
Packaging of a Nivea shower gel refill station with instructions in German and images showing how to use the product.
A woman in a white lab coat and glasses operating a large laboratory machine with a touchscreen in a clean, white-walled laboratory.
Cover of a design book titled 'The Package 7' featuring a black bottle with a blue label and a silver cap, set against a blue background.
A large group of people gathered at an indoor event or exhibition, standing around tables and booths with displays and screens, in a spacious, brightly lit area with blue and white decor.
Group of six diverse professionals sitting and standing on wooden benches in an office with a green moss wall background.
A diverse group of approximately 40 people posing together in a conference room, some smiling, with a red wall and whiteboards in the background.
A wooden clock with Roman numerals and two clock hands on a gray background.
Collection of skincare products including creams and lotions placed on textured stone blocks against a neutral background.
Two black and white packaging containers labeled Butter Plus, one open showing a creamy substance inside, on a white surface.