Frank Gonzalez Jr.

As the Director, Industrial Design and Development, my role is to take approved concept designs and develop them into a manufacturable solution.

• Direct R&D of new lighting product lines and special projects for Residential, Hospitality, and Commercial industries
• Take design brief, consumer insights, strategic foundations and translate them into a manufacturable design
• Partner with and leverage the Strategy, Engineering, and Manufacturing teams to develop holistic processes and procedures that drive innovation, lower cost, and increasing revenue
• Challenge project expectations, reframe the initial problem and scrutinize project assumptions while showing sensitivity to design
• Continually improving design approaches, tools and methodologies to optimize utilization of resources and increase project profitability
• Verbally convey ideas and design concepts to internal team members and clients, articulating and defending rationale behind the development changes
• Research, develop and implement innovative lighting technologies

Custom product development in brand promotional goods. Sales: 15M, Staff: 35. Managed: 10.

Creative Team Leader, Oversee creative, design strategy, & product development.

• Hired, managed & mentored global team of 10, created organization replaced previous Director, hired a project Coordinator, Art Director, Graphic Designers, Industrial Designer & Engineers.
• Increased Creative Department productivity by 42% by implementing Lean Management, launched Planview LeanKit software, shaped Creative Department as Executive Team member.
• Trained & followed EOS Traction, identified inefficiencies, developed processes & implementing procedures.
• Laid the ground work & significant investment to R&D department, purchased & maintained Formlabs Form 2 3D printer plus 3D scanner.

Strategically plan, develop, and streamline manufacturing processes to ensure a safe and productive environment for the largest glass furnace studio on the east coast.

• Prioritize and assign projects to designated production areas.
• Ensure deadlines are met.
• Identify inefficiencies and offer cost effective improvements.
• Create jigs and conduct time studies for product engineering.

Work with Research and Development in creating, planning and developing prototypes for aesthetic and engineering evaluation.
• Analyze designs to identify the components for prototype development.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Glass, Metal, and Resin departments to develop components for each collection.
• Construct an internal system to visually chart the progress of multiple collections in development.
• Research new technology in lighting, and build test environments for preliminary assessments for further engineering examination.
• Daily visits to the Metal, Glass, and Resin manufacturing floor to determine the progress of components as well as aid in the development.

Managed all areas of design including strategy, concept development, refinement and execution in a fast paced environment with evolving priorities. Constantly adapting designs to meet target price expectations and manufacturing requirements.

• Successfully managed 400+ projects by meeting with sales team and clients to determine design expectations and deadlines.
• Traveled the US, UK, Germany, Switzerland, and China to personally manage client relations during projects as required.
• Directed design staff by delegating responsibilities and providing guidance, coordination and feedback to designers to ensure achievement of goals.
• Increased productivity by implementing systematized procedures by developing a comprehensive employee design protocols manual, and established a designer evaluation program.
• Increased department efficiency by initiating the synchronization of the material libraries in the Hong-Kong and Florida offices to further reduce cost and turnaround times.
• Maintained company competitive by adopting relevant industry evolving standards and trends.
• Reinforced corporate branding by standardizing presentation formats.

Key Projects:
Diabetes Care User Experience
Developed in-box carrying solutions and standardized the components for neuropathic users that are now the industry standards in diabetic care. Worked on-site with Marketing, Buyers, and Supply Chain members in the UK.

Lytro, Inc. Accessories
Ground floor design collaboration to develop carrying cases and accessories for the first consumer light field camera. Visited textile markets and factory in Asia with client to advise and assist in finalized product line.

Honeywell
Developed hand straps and holsters for mobile computers and scanners used globally by companies such as FedEx, UPS, and Target.

Leica Camera AG
Collaborated with the Audi Design group in Germany to refine accessories for the Leica-C and Leica-T models.

Worked side by side with the lead carpenter to construction and finishes of cabinets as well as went to job installation sites.

Skills Used
Cutting sheets (Plywood, Formica, Veneers, Plexiglass) and wood slabs to specification using table saw, miter saw, band saw, and planner.

Used staple guns, glue gun sprayers, table sanders, belt sanders, lathes, electric screw drivers, jigsaws, and many more pieces of equipment for construction.

Responsible for designing carrying cases, including refinement and execution based on style, function, quality and safety.

• Developed and managed 160+ high priority projects
• Supported international sales team with client and project prospecting by creating presentations and attending meetings and trade shows across the country.
• Met regularly with vendors to discuss trends and expand material library.
• Mentored and trained all new Junior designers.

Key Project:
XM Radio / Pioneer / Samsung portable receiver In-box Case

Generated designs to satisfy project criteria by collaborating with senior designer and assisting in presentations.

• Conducted market research, ergonomic evaluation, sketching, and 3D models.

Key Project:
Motorola RAZR V3 In-box Leather Case

Graphic Designer
Collaborated on graphic design projects, including collateral design, environmental design and retail signage while cultivating client relationships.

• Designed production graphics for packages, instruction manuals, labels, and ads for video game and automotive accessories.

Key Project:
Bacardi / Clevelander Hotel
Designed the Barcardi Mojito Bar at The Clevelander Hotel in South Beach.

- Maintain all shop equipment in working order.
- Assist students in learning and using equipment.
- Provide assistance to the professors during model making class

- Maintain all shop equipment in working order.
- Assist students in learning and using equipment.
- Keeping an inventory of the materials sold in the shop.
- Provide assistance to the professors during shop class