Accenture Interactive Buys MATTER Innovation Firm

In the US, customer experience and analytics specialist Accenture Interactive has acquired design and innovation firm MATTER, whose range of services includes customer journey mapping, user testing, analytics, design research, product definition and branding. Terms were not disclosed.

MATTER was founded in 2012 and is based in San Francisco. The firm uses emerging digital technologies to embed interactivity into physical objects and environments, and Accenture says the buy will strengthen its design and innovation unit Fjord. Max Burton (pictured), founder and CEO of MATTER, says joining Fjord will enable his firm to design and deliver connected experiences and 'improve the way humans work and live'.

Fjord has 25 studios across five contents, and employs more than 1,000 people. Baiju Shah, global co-lead of Fjord and MD of Accenture Interactive, comments: 'As digital is increasingly embedded in the physical world, brands are coming to us to create connected experiences that capitalize on the potential of the union of digital and physical realms. MATTER allows us to fully address our clients' needs to connect their physical products and experiences with digital services, furthering our ambition to improve the full human experience with brands'.

Web sites: www.accentureinteractive.com, www.fjordnet.com and www.matterglobal.com .