Resumé

MICHAEL JOU
Cell: 313-598-4127
mjou.design@gmail.com

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

AXIS DESIGN, Round Rock, TX 2009-Present
Senior Industrial Designer
Responsible for developing internal product initiatives, expanding the client list in new product categories with support from New Business Development, facilitating brainstorming sessions, and managing clients.
• Lead projects from initial concept sketches through to final Solidworks ID CAD and Design Guideline documentation.
• Created and managed projects aimed to broaden Axis’ client list beyond consumer electronics and the computer industry. Resulted in contracts from tool manufacturers, housewares, health and beauty, soft goods, and personal electronic accessories OEMs.
• Facilitate brainstorming sessions aimed at discovering game-changing product ideas for existing and emerging materials, technologies, and markets. Helped clients expand their marketshare by reimagining and repurposing their technology for non-conventional applications.
• Manage internship program and implement performance tracking metrics for new hires.

FREELANCE DESIGNER, 2009 - present
Freelance design business focused on surfacing hidden opportunities through deep research, meaningful user insight, and evaluating a client’s core competencies to create significant future product offerings. Collaboratively developed manufacturable toy, medical, and electronics concepts for clients showcasing their innovative technologies, proprietary processes, and brand while maintaining project quotes, budgets, and invoicing.
• Clients include Tonka, Homedics, InkLogix, and Fluid Motion Theater & Film.

JCIM/PLASTECH/LDM TECHNOLOGIES, Auburn Hills, MI 2001-2009
Industrial Design Manager 2006-2009
Managed General Motor’s Global Underhood Design Studio and JCIM / Plastech / LDM’s Commercial Support Studio. Created and maintained quotes and budgets, met with customers, and allocated design resources to new projects.
• Optimized a lean workforce to generate productivity equivalent to a department 3X its size. Facilitated the implementation of these practices into the operating model for GM’s internal Global Underhood Appearance Studio that opened in 2008.
• Created approximately $2.9 million of new revenue over 6 years by identifying GM’s need for a dedicated Underhood Appearance Studio which created 14 jobs and garnered an additional $6.4 million in new revenue over 4 years.

Senior Industrial Designer 2001-2006
Developed and refined new product development processes for automotive underhood, exterior, and interior systems, individually and in teams, with an emphasis on plastics molding processes, brand, and reduced complexity.
• Enabled the preservation of approved themes, surface quality, and functionality from initial sketch through production by working iteratively with GM Design and Engineering as the lead underhood designer on the Full Size Truck and Lambda Mid-Size CUV programs.
• Led the concept development for Ford’s initiative to create a culturally appropriate premium vehicle for China.

WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY, Detroit, MI 2000 - 2008
Adjunct Professor
Taught Advanced VisCom using Adobe Photoshop and Transportation Design.
• Promoted industry awareness of WSU’s Industrial Design Program by directing a Sabic Innovative Plastics / CarDesignNews-sponsored sustainable plastic vehicle design project.

THE COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES (CCS), Detroit, MI 2002 Part Time Instructor
Developed a curriculum for teaching product design emphasizing the design process, theory, sketching, and form development.
• Strengthened CCS’s relationship with Arvin Meritor by mentoring a sponsored project to invent new product opportunities in automotive interiors using optimized manufacturing processes.

HENRY DREYFUSS ASSOCIATES, Warren, MI 2000
Freelance Industrial Designer
Worked in teams to develop an aftermarket communication system for the heavy machinery industry with careful consideration to usability, anthropometrics, aesthetics, and DFA / DFM.
• Developed two NavCom antennas and one receiver unit from concept to feasible visualization mockups on an accelerated timeline (1 1/2 months) without compromising the project’s budget.

LEAR CORPORATION, Southfield, MI 1999-2000
Industrial Designer
Designed interior systems for production, aftermarket, and advanced design studios emphasizing anthropometrics, aesthetics, brand character, demographics/market research, and DFA / DFM.
• Led the interior design of the award-winning 2000 Dan Webb SportTrac hotrod that debuted at the 2000 SEMA Show.
• Appointed ‘Youth Market’ expert - selected to observe and create stimuli for focus groups and to participate in a Eureka Ranch Product Innovation Gen Y Brainstorming.

EDUCATION

BFA - INDUSTRIAL DESIGN (PRODUCT), The College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI 1999

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

COMPUTER EXPERIENCE:
Proficient - Solidworks, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Hypershot, Keyshot, Microsoft Office
Working Knowledge - Alias Studio, VisMockup, 3-D Studio Max, Google SketchUp, Adobe InDesign, Corel Painter, Apple iWorkAWARDS

SHOP EXPERIENCE:
Foam, Metal, Wood, and Jewelry/Metalsmithing


PORTFOLIO AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
For samples of my professional work: www.coroflot.com/michaeljou

Projects by Mike Jou

Loop Cable Storage System
3 Files

Caulk Gun Redefined
5 Files

Automotive Interior
12 Files

Dan Webb SportTrac
5 Files

GM Lambda Mid-Size Crossover Underhood
8 Files

GM Full Size Truck Engine Compartment
11 Files

GM Accessories Full Size Truck Ground Effects
3 Files

Ford Full Size Truck Bed Extender
5 Files

Homedics Premium Massage Cushion
6 Files

Toy
3 Files

Miscellaneous
4 Files

The Center for Creative Studies
13 Files