e
Design and Research Professional
Julius Bolinas
Gold Coast, Australia
Available Now
- Contact
- Save to list
-
About
Julius is a seasoned professional Product Designer with 15+ years of Design and Project Management experience in the Home Decor, Furniture, Premium/Gift and Seasonal industry. He also has 3+ years of academic research experience as Research Associate.
He effectively managed design projects across Asia (Hong Kong / China, Thailand, India, Indonesia and the Philippines), the Middle East (Saudi Arabia) and the USA (New York, California and Las Vegas).
He organized and attended trade exhibitions in the USA (New York Sources, Las Vegas World Market, San Francisco International Gift Show and Atlanta Gift Show) and Europe (Birmingham Spring Fair, UK and Ambiente Fair in Frankfurt, Germany). He also visited the headquarters of Pier1 in Dallas, Texas and Family Dollar in North Carolina and market orientation trips to the Netherlands and France. He attends exhibitions held at the HKCEC and the Asia World Expo to identify emerging trends and development in the industry.
He endeavors to be at the forefront of design and technology. He is passionate with using Design Thinking as an effective approach to product development. He loves to play with production processes to create products that are unique to every manufacturers' core competency. He believes that constant innovation is the best and potent strategy to create a company's competitive advantage.
He has a flair for writing marketing campaigns, copywriting, video editing and graphics. He provides a multi-layered approach to new product development projects. He is also into space/exhibition design and visual merchandising.
He is currently a PhD candidate at the Griffith University, Gold Coast campus in Queensland, Australia. He finished his Master of Design and graduated with Distinction from the The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). He was a recipient of Design Innovation Scholarship during his study. He founded a tech startup that was incubated at the Hong Kong Science Park.
He enjoys swimming and walking for recreation. He is into academic and creative writing. -
Education
-
PhD Candidate DesignGriffith University2019 - Currently Enrolled
-
Master's Degree Design PracticesThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University2013 - 2014
-
BFA Industrial Design Industrial DesignUniversity of the Philippines1991 - 1995
-
-
Experience
-
Research AssociateSchool of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University2015 - 2017 (2 years)1. Utilizing design as a strategy for consumer evaluation and product differentiation
2. Implementing design-driven innovation within the context of China experience: How to transform low end manufacturing to value added manufacturing
3. A comparative study of industry practices of graduates of Master of Design (Strategies) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Illinois Institute of Design and Delft University
* Reported directly to the Dean of School of Design, PolyU
* Reviewed literature on design-driven innovation, consumer attentiveness, design acumen, research methods and survey design
* Prepared online questionnaire using Qualtrics software
* Encoded and compared data using SPSS software -
Startup Founder / DirectorAmazing Trace Technologies Limited2015 - 2016 (1 year)• Technology Incubation Fund Awardee of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park (HKSTP)
• Graduate of the HKSTP Incu-App Programme
Amazing Trace is an innovative social media platform for gamified adventure. Three proprietary products under development were: 1) TRACE, a mobile app, 2) TAG, a digital locator system and
3) interactive website.
Anyone who loves adventure can navigate, create and authenticate their special moments with Amazing Trace and start earning from their experiences. It caters to extremely independent and tech-savvy travelers, or people-on-the-go seeking a disruptive and enriching travel experience around Hong Kong and beyond. The Amazing Trace ecosystem is conceived as a data mining
platform to capture customer engagement and an interactive tool to design business strategies around their activities. It offers businesses cross-referenced big data to help them grow their business around their highly engaged consumers. -
Product DesignerJetmax Ltd2012 - 2014 (2 years)• Reported directly to the Company Director and handled ‘ad hoc’ design projects (Spring and Halloween)
• Coordinated with American contract designers on special design projects (Spring, Christmas, Halloween)
• Traveled with Company Director to the USA (Chicago and Dallas) for market research and exposure
• Attended the bi-annual Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China for the company
• Provided showroom and visual merchandising assistance -
Product DesignerKiwe Industrial Ltd / Topaz Home Ltd2010 - 2012 (2 years)• Set design direction for the company’s product development activities for Home Décor
• Handled the company’s maiden participation to the Mega Show Hong Kong Exhibition, designing the booth, products and packaging (PDQ and display boxes)
• Supervised the CNC and Laser cutting facility of the company
• Travelled with the company President and Marketing Manager to the USA (North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia) for market research and meet with customers (Family Dollar and two other wholesaler)
• Provided visual merchandising assistance to their showrooms in Zhuhai and Hong Kong
• Visit the bi-annual Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China -
Design ConsultantFranklin Creative Products2006 - 2010 (4 years)• Provided design consultancy for their participation to the 2006 Hongkong International Gift Show
• Design and development of floral accessories and Christmas ornaments
• Design of exhibition space and visual merchandising -
Design SupervisorGift Mart International2006 - 2007 (1 year)• Reported directly to the company President and handled major design projects like the Saudi Aramco Online
Catalogue and the 75th Saudi Aramco Commemorative Anniversary Gift Set
• Travelled extensively with the President to Hong Kong, mainland China and Thailand to source new suppliers, identify market trends and liaise with overseas vendors
• Supervised the Special Designs Division comprising of Graphic Designers, Sculptors, and 3D Designers
• Communicated directly with overseas suppliers, particularly on the design and technical aspects of new product development and provided correct design direction of ongoing projects -
Chief Product DesignerFlying Elephants2004 - 2006 (2 years)• Handled the exhibitions in New York SOURCES, Las Vegas World Market, San Francisco International Gift Show and Seattle Gift Show
• Conceptualized the marketing plan under the themes ‘Organic Living’ and ‘At Home’
• Performed multi-tasking roles as product and graphic designer, exhibition designer, and merchandiser
• Reported directly to the Company President and developed market-oriented products for the company’s home décor, case goods and garden decor buyers
• Increased design output and reduced development time by 50% by working directly with sample makers and suppliers in their production base. New suppliers and materials were sourced, resulting in good product mix
• Handled major US accounts like Pier1, West Elm, World Market (Costplus), Zodax, Container Store, Verandah, Dillards and European account like Habitat UK)
• Excelled in multi-tasking by performing the roles of product and graphic designer, exhibition designer, marketing specialist and merchandiser for the company’s participation to the New York SOURCES, Las Vegas World Market,
Seattle Gift Show & the San Francisco International Gift Show
• Renovated the company’s showroom displays in Thailand and Indonesia, by introducing an orderly way of highlighting newly developed products through proper visual merchandising approach. Strategic displays with themes created a unique viewing experience for buyers
• Improved the company’s website by updating it with the latest products, correct product information and well written company profile -
Senior Product DesignerGreat Dividing Range2003 - 2004 (1 year)• Design products for Tableware (votive and candle holders, wall decors, mirrors, etc), Barware (sets of wine rack, wine caddy, shelf and accessories) and Bathware (sets of bathroom hooks, towel ring and rail, shelf and caddy)
• Provided directions to a team of sample-makers for metal components from a factory based in Surabaya
• Provided directions to a team of sample-makers for natural material components (clay, vines, shells, etc) in Bali
• Coordinated with Marketing Team for buyer visits and special project requirements -
Technical ManagerAdvocate of Philippine Fair Trade, Incorporated1999 - 2003 (4 years)• Assisted more than a hundred micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) in the craft industry by providing product design services, booth design & visual merchandising and graphic design assistance
• Set up a system of selection, training, and maintenance of merit-based pool of product designers through the Designers for Regional Apprenticeship in Fair Trade (DRAFT)
• Performed multi-tasking and saved the company expenses in hiring outsourced design consultants, trainers, graphic designers, writers, and exhibition designers by performing these specialized skills
• Originated ‘APFTI Selections’, a catalogue of products for the international market and ‘Regalo’, a catalogue of products for the Philippine market
• Utilized graphic design, editorial and photography skills while handling the quarterly edition of ‘Market I Digest’, product catalogues, technical papers, and marketing collateral on Fair Trade advocacy
• Visited the UK, Germany, Netherlands, and France to attend craft seminars and market exposure trips
Filipinas Fair Trade Ventures
• Designed new products for the maiden exhibition of FFTV at the Manila FAME International.
• Company sales have exceeded target by 15%
• Two of my designs were nominated for Best Product Design
• Designed the exhibition space and provided visual merchandising assistance that showcased the products strategically, resulting in good exposure and sales
• Designed online and print materials (invitations & product catalogue) for complete branding experience -
Design and Marketing ConsultantCommunity Craft Association of the Philippines1997 - 1999 (2 years)• Provided comprehensive design and marketing service by re-branding CCAP as a manufacturer of contemporary houseware products from its old image as a social enterprise with traditional products
• Designed and developed home décor items for their Manila FAME International participation
• Sales generated by my designs increased by 33% from the previous year
• Earned a nomination for Best Product Design by the Manila FAME International committee
• My designs were carried by The Holding Company (UK) and were featured in the March and June 2000 issues of Livingetc, a British design magazine
• A product I designed was included in the book “Contemporary Eastern” by Alice Whately
• Services provided includes design of products, promotional materials, product catalogue, re-branding campaign (CCAP: Contemporary Crafts, Alternative Products) design of the exhibition space and visual merchandising
-
-
Awards
Winner, Best Product Collection
Nominee, Best Product Design
Grand Prize, Student Furniture Design Competition
Runner-up, UP CFA Best Industrial Design Thesis
Finalist, Creative Packaging Design Competition -
Industries
-
Skills
-
Elsewhere on the Web
-
On Coroflot@juandesigns, member since 2008
-
-
Followers 2
