Ki Charm John Kim

Freelance product design and launch of ceramic art studio selling wheel-thrown functional and decorative ceramics under K. Charm Design label. Market research revealed a gap between mass market and high-end ceramics. Positioned K. Charm Design as a small-batch ceramics company rooted in locale and with price points just below the high-aspiration customer. Management of in-house product development team.

Design and engineering for Capital's three brands, Home Place, Austin Allen & Capital, tiered along their good, better, best model. Based on sales and marketing data research, coordinating design to market needs. Work alongside sales strategy team to create designs that fit price points, size and typical use case needs. Incorporating trend and color research from WGSN, Pantone and both print and online sources to ascertain current home goods market. Used market size research that indicate how technology shifts affect how consumers are purchasing and using lighting to design products that fit increased consumer demands for a particular type of lighting (ie. bathroom mirrors with encased LED lighting)

Provided leadership and oversight for outdoor furniture division. Designed mass market patio sets for customers such as The Home Depot, Lowe's Hardware, Sam's Club and Macy's. Researched functional styles and designs to create comfortable furniture and on-trend color palettes. Traveled overseas to China to work directly with factories and overseas team. Used color and material trend services (Worth Global Style Network) to focus color and market trends. Managed junior designer by developing color/mood boards for design parameters as well as feedback and guidance during design process.

Designed furniture and lighting for company's proprietary brand. Researched market trends and timeless concepts to develop contemporary and transitional pieces. Collaborated with local craftspeople and customers to create custom, high-end pieces. Identified client style and needs, sketched initial concepts, and revised throughout project process for quality finished product. * Utilized Rhino 3D and AutoCAD to render and create Kyrelos Chaise Lounge, upholstered furniture collection, and "Diagonale" furniture series.

( Additional experience as Lighting Designer for Troy & CSL Lighting, Product Development Manager for Disney Consumer Products and Product Designer for The Bombay Company.)