ABOUT
An overview of my experience and skills
About
I’m an observer, a thinker and a maker.
20 years of experience defining relevant insights and transforming them into meaningful products.
With in-depth experience in both front end and back end product development at major global companies.
Trust and consensus builder around the shared objective of striving to create successful products and services
High sensitivity to socio cultural and lifestyle movements how they inform brand, strategy, communications and design.
Creative intelligence should be used for good, to improve peoples lives and the environment around us.
I care about the ethics of design and products. I believe that better products make successful products.
experience
Creative capabilities
I have worked on major projects of research and insight collection, strategic design, CMF research and design, industrial design, UX design, brand DNA design, Interior / Architectural, Innovation.
NPD
I have worked in product development for medical products, Architectural / furnishing product, Consumer Electronics and Home Appliances. I have broad experience of what does and what doesn’t work in NPD processes and also what kind of rigour is involved to getting valuable products and services into the hands of users.
User insight
My work is primarily focused on delivering meaningful experiences of tangible value and benefit. I bring that intent to every project, and my sensitivity to opportunities has been refined due to the depth of knowldege in back end product development.
However, the insight is just the thread. The challenge is threading the needle and creating the patchwork which delivers on the initial value potential.
Cross functional
I have collaborated in live projects with all areas of large organisations from marketing and planning, to communications branding, research, design, engineering, manufacturing, sales and point of sale staff. In each case, building relationships and promoting the deeper value of design and creative thinking.
Cross regional
I have direct indepth experience of business culture in Italy, Germany, UK, Ireland, France, India, China, Korea, USA. I also have 20 years of experience of different cultures and people and so I have high global awareness.
C-Suite experience
I am passionate about my work. When opportunities are truly valuable to customers I am most engaged. I have experience expressing that engagement while promoting innovative opportunities to executives and CEOs. I am honest, confident and I speak openly to my colleagues at every level of the business.
Self awareness
I show high self-awareness, and I am a high achiever. I question every decision and I never take business issues for granted. I seek to understand and I am a good listener and good at building trusting relationships, but I always contribute my opinion and use my experience when there are problems to be solved.
Leadership
I have been a leading member of medium sized design studios since my career began. I value honest working relationships and I seek to create a comfortable but highly efficient and quality focused team.
I have taken part in extensive training during my career as a designer and team leader, including: Emotional Intelligence / Team motivation and dynamics / Global mindset / Leadership Circle (profile analysis)
career
CHANGHONG ELECTRIC CO. (London / Chengdu)
(2018 - 2019) - Design Director
Key Acheivements:
Created a design DNA / vision objective for sub-brand CHIQ.
Created a market segmented strategy which was both technologically feasable and affordable while also being highly competitive and aspirational in experience and appearance.
Developed a concept product line-up which delivered innovative and meaningful value for the home, the family and the business.
Created an equitable evaluation models for Research, UX and ID departments, for both projects and personel.
Conducted 80 hours of training for the design team to advance their knowledge, confidence and focus on user value & benefit in design.
Conducted 20 hours of corporate training on the deeper value of design, a creative culture and design thinking.
KOHLER LONDON STUDIO
(2013 - 2018) - Lead Designer
Key Acheivements:
Development of KOHLERs first truly global sanitaryware range of products from portfolio strategy to product launch.
Conceptual strategy for the entire catalogue of products. 2 ranges have already reached market.
Lead on all insight definition from customer qual & quant Competitor value propositions and entire category semiotic coding.
Lead on all marketing and engineering concensus building, concept design, international market by-in and company wide presentations up to Chairman.
“Modern Life” range won Red Dot and IF design awards, and was finalist in A+Awards for architectural interior furnishings.
Proposed a branded bathroom experience which leveraged core KOHLER category products and realistc technology. This showcase was subsequently adopted as a the medium term target for KOHLER’s IOT bathroom experience.
Lead on the design of Kohler CLARITY a water cleaning filter developed as a non-profit project with a third world NGO
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS (Milan / London)
(2006 - 2013) - Design Manager
Key Acheivements:
Devised a high efficiency project process where research and concept design (ID and UX) run in parallel. The first instance lead to 5 compelling and relevant strategic concept scenarios in 6 weeks total.
2012 Proposed curved screen technology be used for monitor products as they had higher real benefit than TV. This was later adopted.
Extensive experience in research, insight, trends, design, advanced concept and strategy.
Two notebook PC products launched globally 2010
Frequent presentations to CEO and President level leaders.