Peter Gould: The Art of Heart-Centered Design

Peter Gould’s story is one of faith, creativity, and courage - a journey that transformed him from a young designer experimenting with Photoshop in suburban Sydney to a globally recognised advocate for heart-centered design leadership.

For over two decades, Peter has been helping brands, communities, and creative teams around the world rediscover what it means to design with authenticity and purpose. His studio has partnered with Apple, Google, Disney, Greenpeace, Dubai Islamic Bank, and Qatar Museums, shaping initiatives that fuse innovation with values.

At the Elevate Business Summit 2026, Peter will join us online to share insights from this remarkable journey - exploring how design, spirituality, and purpose intersect in a world increasingly defined by digital acceleration and cultural tension.

From Curiosity to Conviction

Peter’s career began like many creatives - with curiosity and hustle. He designed his first paid poster as a teenager and never looked back. But a chance friendship with a Muslim family near his home would profoundly change his worldview.

“They were intelligent, successful, and kind,” Peter recalls. “They prayed, they fasted, they lived their faith fully. It challenged everything I thought I knew about religion.”

That curiosity led him into a deep period of exploration - visiting mosques, reading, and meeting people who embodied calmness and purpose. On the 27th night of Ramadan, Peter embraced Islam. “It was the start of an incredible journey of immense blessings,” he says.

Faith, Design, and the Courage to Begin Again

Soon after his conversion, Peter faced early professional challenges. Working with major agencies like Ogilvy and Saatchi, he began turning down briefs that conflicted with his new values. “It wasn’t easy,” he admits. “But walking away created space for something better.”

He spent years travelling through the Islamic world, collecting stories, artifacts, and inspiration that would shape his creative philosophy - from the geometry of ancient tiles in Fez to the handwritten Qur’an he found in Damascus. These encounters laid the foundation for what he would later call heart-centered design  - an approach that connects creativity to conscience.

Design as Remembrance

Today, Peter’s work explores how design can remind rather than distract - a theme explored in his forthcoming book The Heart of Design (2025). Through storytelling, visuals, and workshops, he teaches teams and leaders how to nurture alignment between values, culture, and innovation.

His design thinking model - inspired by Stanford d.school frameworks but grounded in timeless spiritual principles - has been delivered to audiences across the world, including COP28 in Dubai, Meta in London, and Apple in San Francisco.

“Design isn’t just about what looks good,” Peter says. “It’s about what feels right, what uplifts, connects, and leaves a lasting impact.”

A Global Creative with Local Heart

Peter’s portfolio reads like a map of modern cultural dialogue. He co-created Salam Sisters, a toy and storytelling brand for Muslim girls that sold out globally, and helped launch Mizan, an Islamic finance literacy game for Dubai Islamic Bank. His creative leadership has even extended into the Web3 space with the Okay Bears digital collectibles brand - which raised over USD 18 million in its first day and went on to partner with the UN Refugee Agency and Movember.

Whether designing children’s characters or advising Silicon Valley on spirituality in design, Peter’s constant aim is to create meaning, not noise.

Success with Sakīna

When asked what success means to him now, Peter smiles:

“Success feels like sakīna, a peaceful heart, and riḍā, contentment and surrender. It’s not about having more, it’s about being aligned. That’s where real design begins.”

It’s that philosophy - fusing spiritual insight with creative excellence - that continues to make Peter Gould one of the most inspiring voices in contemporary design.

Don't miss Australia's first dedicated 3 day conference - Elevate 2026 - Connection Muslim Business Minds Register for early bird rates now