Gouichi Tanaka: Material Performance Technician in Mountain View, CA

- Explored concepts for Google’s flagship stores’ customer experience journey from navigation, visual merchandising, and try-on demos - Crafted physical models of store fixtures, utilizing shop tools and mixed media including foamcore, wood, 3D printing, laser cutting, large-format plotting, etc.

- Co-managed a workshop whose capabilities focused around model-making and plotting marketing graphics - Assisted in a range of tasks including research, visualization, prototyping, presentation, and archiving - Adapted quickly to change while supporting multiple teams and individuals.

- high fidelity visual and/or functional prototypes, including but not limited to: bags, speakers, phone cases, eyewear cases, headphone enclosures. - leather working (splitting, skiving, forming, cutting, sewing) - prototyping machinery, including but not limited to: 3D printing, laser cutting, laminating, digital cutting, sonic welding, UV printing, hot/cold press

- collaborated in a small team of 3 designers for a private client in consumer electronics - developed an evolution of a family of products while preserving its trademark qualities - produced concept sketches, digital renders, models, physical mockups, presentation boards - conducted research for market landscape, ergonomics, user experience, task analysis - explored digital user interface with physical product, and via mobile app

- reframed problem statements to discover a core user experience and opportunity - exercised design process through research, ideation, development, validation - collaborated with in-house ME/EE teams, product managers, sourcing specialist - created visual presentations and participated heavily in client meetings - gained exposure to a range of product types including: medical, automotive, soft goods, toys

- collaborated with a team of ID students and professional engineers on medical device project - conducted experience research, user flow analysis, ergonomics, human factors - observed parameters within environment of procedure at hospital operation room - produced 2D sketch concepts, foam mockups, and 3D printed models