Strengths

  • Front-end Innovation

  • Visual Brand Language / Design for Brand

  • Product Development / Creative Rapid Prototyping

  • Human-centric / Inclusive User Experiences

  • Lead-by-example & hands-on approach

  • European & Asian experience

Design expertise-at-a-glance.

Seymourpowell - Senior Industrial Designer, 2007-2017, London, UK . Led all front-end innovation projects. Fast-paced project-based product development. Design consultation experience with a focus on directing ambiguous Next Generation Products that are undefined, original & patentable. Industry Expert in Creo Parametric 3D Surface Modelling & SolidWorks Visualise Pro. Holds Numerous active patents in FMCG & Transportation Systems.

General Electric/Fitch (GE/FITCH) - Senior Industrial Design Consultant, 1997-2006, Singapore, Taipei & Shanghai. Joined the Singapore-based consultancy as industrial designer #4 for the joint venture of General Electric Plastics and Fitch WPP. Accomplished tasks related to all aspects of the Industrial Design process, from managing research / focus group studies to designing inputs for physical prototyping. As a main contributor in core team that setup branches/studios in Taipei & Shanghai with the focus to bring in new business opportunities. Early adopter in Rapid Prototyping Techniques. Provide guidance to the design team as an expert/mentor for surface modelling methodology with parametric top-down assembly principles. Engaged in numerous brand and product identity led projects that provide basic-level innovations in polymer-based materials.

Notable Projects / Clients

  • World’s first ethical smartphone for Fairphone 2

  • World’s first black soap for Unilever Axe/Lynx

  • Train driver’s cabin for European Rail Alliance

  • Numerous large format printing products for HP

  • Virtual Ticket Office for Cubic Transportation

  • SunBike for CM Partners Korea

  • World’s first Digital Sommelier for The Fat Duck.

  • Hive Leak Detector for Centrica & FlowGem.

Education Expertise-at-a-glance

University of the Arts London - Creative Technologies Lead, Senior Tutor, 2017-2024, London, UK. Engaged in multiple roles providing specific academic experiences at Central Saint Martins as an early career researcher, undergraduate second year leader, technical studies leader and creative technologies leader. Main responsibilities include teaching core skills, digital technologies & techniques for undergraduate product design students. The emphasis is to empower the next generation through the discourse of technological literacy and skills dexterity. The ambition is to encourage creative diversity through the use of craft-based skills and technology-based tools. An expert contributor to design briefs so as to engage client collaborators and secure fee-paying student project. Vast experiences in creative directing large student groups in experienced-based technological projects.

Current research focus: 1. AI-powered creative tools applied to sketch/drawing, product visualisations and storytelling. 2. Expanding usage and intent based on current 3D design platform to model & share geometry in immersive augmented environment.

Notable academic affiliations & achievements

  • 2019 UAL Teaching Award Winner.

  • Board Member Online Learning Group.

  • Board Member Render and Storage Group.

  • Nominated as staff member for Board of Studies in Central Saint Martins.

  • Jury for Global Design Competition.

  • Technology-focused Erasmus+ Exchange with Design Academy Eindhoven.

  • External examiner for University of West England Bristol’s BA Product Design and BSc Product Design Technology courses.

  • Associate Lecturer for Royal College of Art’s Innovation Design Engineering course / module: Evo/Revo.

leong.kokchian@network.rca.ac.uk