Lucas Van Dyke: Chair Kentucky Chapter in New Albany, IN

In my role as the Chapter Chair, I design and organize leadership events focused on fostering design community in metro Louisville.

Straddling the role of both Designer and Engineer. As the Chief Industrial Designer I serve as facilitator and liaison between concept creations, product management, material selection, sourcing, and our vendor base with the mission to ensure that all our products go from concept to reality on time while maintaining design intent without compromising on manufacturing, quality control, or cost. Responsible for developing numerous case solutions and unique finishes, styles, and design requirements, simultaneously for a multitude of different Clients, Products, Brands, and each with their own challenges. Developed and launched a vast breadth of unique case solutions for high end optical, medical, and electrical equipment while also designing and launching many distinct styles of cut and sewn soft cases and Thermal formed EVA portable carrying cases. Maintain and improved critical relationships with our Asia Based Suppliers, through daily phone calls and video conferences. Utilize the close contact with Asia based factories to understand and help develop our manufacturing processes and spend time with our Asian personnel to ensure out products are delivered on time and to spec. Manage multiple project timelines across product and packaging in the face of extremely short market opportunity windows. Driving innovation and exploration into new manufacturing techniques, new materials, and new finishes to enhance our design intent, improve user experience, and reduce waste whenever possible. Responsible for creating tool-ready 3D models (SolidWorks) and technical spec drawings for final designs. Specialties: Product Design, Product Development, Concept Development, Creative Direction, SolidWorks, Manufacturing, Thermoforming, Problem Solving, Sourcing, Process, Quality Control Procedures and Testing, Project Management, Brand Development, Model Making and Custom Fabrication, Photography, Acute Organizational Skills, Client / Manufacturing Communication.