Michael Tam

• Oversee multiple categories of large wheeled travel equipment, lifestyle bags, golf gloves, and accessories from concept design phase through commercialization
• Collaborate with designers to maintain design intent and ensure production feasibility
• Travel to Asia factories as needed to complete important project phases
• Analyze factory BOMs to optimize negotiations and finding most cost-effective solutions for meeting target pricing and margins
• Initiate counter sourcing of materials and trims by working with overseas sourcing teams and directly with suppliers to find the most cost-effective and innovative options
• Institute new quality inspection processes for golf gloves by identifying fit issues; evaluating sizing and features; and working cross functionally with quality engineers, designers, quality assurance, and factories

• Influenced design and development direction for pet apparel product line by utilizing thorough research, sketches, technical drawings, prototype mock ups, and fit testing
• Undertook Manager of Product responsibilities for client including development; sourcing and sales channel strategy; factory communications; and quality assurance documentation
• Provided image editing when needed for sales channels, trade show displays, and social media to ensure prominent displays of products
• Instituted initial set up of Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, and Shopify accounts to optimize online presence for brand
• Focused on understanding customers' needs and goals to establish brand image with logo, product concept, and graphic designs for various industries
• Collaborated with event and organization planners to create dynamic solutions for apparel graphics
• Created branding, web graphics, stationery, and print ads for AKC Beagle breeder, Aloha Spirit Beagles (print designs featured in Show Beagle Quarterly and Ilio magazines)

• Applied data collected from trade shows, focus groups, vendor meetings, SWAT competitions, and product research to new body armor and accessory development
• Managed Centric PLM workflow, design, bill of materials, product inspection documents, and colorways to support processes cross functionally from concept to production
• Engaged in major design decisions and customer communications as lead designer of Aardvark Tactical's Project 7 body armor carriers and accessories

• Accomplished design goals through extensive research, sketching, rendering, mock ups, and tech packs to create award-winning Sentry Vest (2016 Powersports Business "Nifty 50")
• Utilized communication with vendors to determine costs, schedules, efficient usage of materials, and improvements for all new products
• Discussed direction of current and future products with purchasing team while considering unit costs, profit margins, inventory, and sales forecasts in decision making
• Displayed leadership by mentoring new product development staff, initiating feedback discussions on product samples with designers, providing constructive observations to product and graphic design solutions, and fully managing design direction for the 2011 Slippery Wetsuits product line
• Interacted with professional racers and consumers to develop innovative solutions based on understanding of user needs and industry trends

• Presented creative insight to conceptualize innovative products for WowWee’s diverse award-winning line of toys and consumer electronics
• Visualized design ideas through sketches, 3-D modeling, mockups, and renderings
• Developed concepts for various licensed products for Disney and 20th Century Fox (James Cameron’s Avatar)
• Compiled presentation material for meetings with design team and clients

• Utilized skills and knowledge of creative process to design unique footwear concepts in various categories
• Conceptualized design, and created tech packs and outsole blueprint for Nitehawk Limited Edition shoe (released in 2009)
• Devised shoe upper concepts for Ultranatural Run II (inspired upper designs for various future running shoes)
• Enabled efficient communication between product development and vendors by providing detailed specifications of products through technical drawings