Designer, Design for Startups Fall 2026

Maximilien McDonough, who goes by Max, is an interaction designer who wants digital products to be as considered and well-made as the physical ones he has spent his career building and selling. He founded and ran the Indie Hat Company and led product development in western apparel, sourcing materials, managing manufacturing, and selling the finished product. Running a small business, working a sales floor, and leading a team taught him how early stage companies operate, and that is the kind of company he wants to design for.

Max’s design work focuses on accessibility and on the people who will actually use the product. Outside of design, he volunteers in his community and spends as much time outdoors as he can.