Simon Kwan

Chiefly responsible for creative vision and design execution of premium airline amenity kits, with a focus on bags.

Additional Responsibilities:
- Primary product design responsibilities for retail packaging
- Lead researcher and advisor on technology and fashion trends and applications
- Creative Direction and development of amenities concepts collections for annual trade show (WTCE)
- Aesthetic and quality refinement for samples development
- Materials and construction methods innovation and development for bags
- Creation of sales and marketing presentations
- Sales support at trade shows and customer meetings

The world is a big place full of exciting opportunities! As a product designer, I have the pleasure of collaborating with other people and businesses to develop new ideas to win business, improve customer experience, and increase revenue.

Some of the projects I designed:
- STAQ - modular mobile power and entertainment system (http://www.staqon.com)
- The Mia Case - World's first iPhone makeup palette and wallet case (http://miacase.com)

Qaramel brand was created on Apple's request to sell the successfully Kickstarted SIMPLcase into Apple retail stores in APAC region

The SIMPLcase, is a minimalist iPhone case that:
- Discreetly and safely stores SIM cards and the iPhone SIM eject tool
- Can use any standard credit card as a kickstand for hands free iPhone use

First attempt at crowdfunding independent product design effort on Kickstarter: http://kck.st/OIMag4

Despite positive feedback from backers, the campaign was cancelled with important lessons learned:
- timing is critical - especially for accessories
- social media relationships must be organic and require investment and time to build
- it's better to be good and fast than slow and perfect
- focus on one product at a time to reduce risk and consumer confusion

Lessons learned from PodKit Watch helped the success of my next project, SIMPLcase.

Grotto Design Creation's art tiles and modernized Chinese motif decals and house ware gifts and accessories have been sold all over the world, and received numerous design awards and praise from the likes of Elle Decor China.

With an eye towards the growing China domestic market, Grotto began to develop new collections of interior decor and lifestyle products with beauty and innovation equaling those of their original line of products.

Grotto's main focus now is designing and producing several collections of fashion bags & accessories for a family of Chinese women's fashion brands.

Key Responsibilities:
- Overall responsibility for successful development of collections of fashion lifestyle and home décor products and accessories
- Lead designer for products and retail packaging
- Manage, develop, and grow internal and external design resources
- Manage and assist in product sourcing efforts

During my three years with WESSCO International, I helped to incubate and develop the product design competency. My many responsibilities included:

- Product development and creation of annual collections of travel amenity, guest & passenger comfort, and service ware products
- Operational management and execution of semi-annual trade shows
- Management of WESSCO brand identity
- Creation of collateral materials (presentations, brochures, etc) for Sales & Marketing support
- Publication and submission of project bid proposals

Several of my product designs have been instrumental in securing supply contracts with a number of major airlines, including Etihad Airways and Delta Airlines.

I was employed as a freelance consultant for TPG. In the role of Director of Product Development, I was responsible for all aspects of product development across 4 different product categories: ATVs, youth ride on toys, scooters, and off road go karts (aka fun karts). As TPG's key technical manager in China, I was directly involved on all levels, from strategic product conceptualization with the executive management team to product and manufacturing quality improvements with our suppliers.

Key Responsibilities:
- Design new product styling, structural elements, and technical specifications for motorsports and powered toys (off-road go-karts, ATVs, Scooters, electric ride on toys)
- Creation of prototypes and development of manufacturing tools, working directly with Chinese factory partners in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces
- Design and implement rigorous testing and validation of new products and engineering design changes for existing products to verify system and component durability and safety
- Examine and verify product specs satisfy legal safety standards and regulations

Initially brought into the company to research the market and develop product features and improvements, I was soon made responsible for executing engineering improvements, and then new product development as well as managing a staff of 20+ Chinese engineers and technicians in the R&D department. I was also asked to support the sales and marketing dept. in working with customers on product improvements. On the production side, I was regularly involved in troubleshooting quality problems as well as developing and implementing product and process improvements.

Key Responsibilities:
- Execution of designs from concept and prototype development through to validation, testing, and start of production
- Engineering oversight of structural blue prints and engineering change documents
- Modeled, analyzed, and re-designed steering and suspension geometries and mechanical components to address durability and improve vehicle dynamics

Key Accomplishments:
- Engineered steering system geometry for Dazon Raider Extreme 1100
- Re-engineering suspension and steering geometry for Dazon Raider Sport 150D
- Re-engineered faulty wheel hub design for Dazon small off road go kart family

In this position, I had to fill many roles, such as researcher, prototyper, design, and collaborative innovation facilitator. As a researcher, I went into the field and used ethnographic research techniques to study consumers in the 'natural' environment to gain insights into their product purchase and usage behaviors. This research was then dissected and analyzed, and with the team, developed into insights which were then presented to the client. As a prototyper and designer, I physically conceptualized and modelled product designs. As an innovation facilitator, I worked directly with key decision makers within the client company in order to help then digest and then use the research insights in order to actively participate in creating actionable solution strategies for improving their products and/or services. This brief experience was a wonderful learning opportunity!

Key Contributions:
- Planned, conducted, and analyzed user-centered, ethnographic field research
- Assisted in intensive research immersion and design workshop with multibillion-dollar global clients in automotive and consumer markets
- Created rapid prototypes of design concepts using sketch models and CAD renderings

- Designed and rendered (in 2D & 3D) advanced Multimedia products in support of marketing and engineering groups
- Researched relevant technology, consumer, and market trends to identify design opportunities and provide program direction
- Resolved tooling, assembly, appearance, and NVH issues working with Korean suppliers on MPC telematics project

- Managed speaker system development and release for domestic and European customers
- Designed speaker systems specifications working between customer requirements and supplier capabilities

- Analyzed quality trends (in real time) using warranty return tracking system to identify manufacturing and/or design related quality issues
- Performed Root Cause Analysis in design, manufacturing, and assembly
- Rapidly implemented engineering solutions

- Designed, released, and validated LED CHMSL for 1998 Camaro SS
- Conducted ergonomic packaging and fit studies of retrofitting Recaro seats into GM F-cars
- Produced rapid prototype mockups of design concepts for team evaluations
- Created styling and concept renderings of original vehicle designs in support of Marketing and Engineering