As China moves to increase local innovation, design is one aspect of our tech market that is on the up and up.
At a special panel named Design Plus, TechCrunch Shanghai going will invite five top design entrepreneurs to share their experience working at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship and design.
1. Jason Huang, TANG
Jason is the founder and CEO of TANG Consulting (Innovation for China), a company committed to bringing innovative design experiences to China’s users. Since 2007, Tang Consulting has provided service to hundreds of clients including Lenovo, ICBC, China Guangfa Bank.
TANG Consulting headquarters are in Shanghai, and have offices and labs in Beijing and Guangzhou for regional project needs. With the support of global partners, TANG provides service for cross-culture projects in 9 locations worldwide.
Prior to TANG, Jason founded UXPA CHINA, a leading Chinese non-profit user experience organization, in 2004 and was the president of this organization for 10 years.
2. Will Zhang, ARK Design
Will is the founder of ARK design and oversees innovation strategy and client experiences. Born and raised in countryside in remote Xinjiang, Will studied aerospace engineering in Beijing. He worked at Siemens for more than ten years and accumulated rich experience in innovation, business management and consulting.
As an early core member of Asian team of ‘Frog Design’, Will helped the company to expand business in the Asian market successfully.
ARK Design is a design and innovation consultancy based in Shanghai, China, helping create world class products, experiences and brands for China market. By providing innovation strategy consulting, ARK Design also helps brands build innovation culture, and long lasting innovation competences.
3. Token Hu, Niu Technology
Token Hu is the founder of electric scooter startup Niu Technology, which just launched its “N1 smart e-scooter. Hu is also the founder and CEO of UTLAB USA, a technology-driven footwear company.
Prior to that, Hu worked as UX design lead with Microsoft Live, then went on to work with Frog Design, one of the most famous and innovative design firms around, with clients like Apple, Disney, GE, and many other Fortune 500 brands.
4. Yizhou Li, Thinkskey
Yizhou Lee is the founder and CEO of Thinkskey, a startup focused on smart home solutions. He has experience in mobility design and product design. He also was a design researcher in user study, strategy, process and methodology.
In addition, he consults for some of the biggest Chinese Internet companies, including Baidu, 360 and Leho. Yizhou is the co-founder of 1deaer design research, joint Ph.D. student of RCA & Tsinghua, holds a master’s in industrial design and human factors from Hunan University.
5.Baonan Du, Zhiche Auto
Baonan Du is the co-founder of smart car manufacturer Zhiche Auto. He graduated with a BFA in industrial design from Tsinghua University (The Central Academy of Art and Design) in 1996.
Prior to Zhiche, he worked as chief designer of PSA Peugeot Citroen’s China design center, Motorola’s North Asia Center, GM Patac and Coolpad’s innovation design center.
The panel is slated for 14:50-15:20 on June 9, please click here for more information of TechCrunch Shanghai.
