ChapMei
Location: Hong Kong
Dates: Aug 2016 - Oct 2018
Role: Junior Product Designer
Team: Research & Development
Company website: http://www.chapmei.com
Launched over 15 products, and handled over 10 projects:
6.5-inch Foam dart gun
12-inch Foam dart gun
26-inch Foam dart gun
Toy vehicles (Soldier Force & Rescue Force)
Action figure toy set (Soldier Force & Rescue Force)
Dates: Aug 2016 - Oct 2018
Role: Junior Product Designer
Team: Research & Development
Company website: http://www.chapmei.com
Launched over 15 products, and handled over 10 projects:
Why ChapMei
ChapMei (CM) is an over 40 years toy production company based in Hong Kong. Also it established its own factory in China. When I graduated from THEi (2016), Mr. Andrew Lee (Senior Product Designer) came to our graduation show and invited me to work in ChapMei (CM) as a Junior Product Designer.
Considering the company's position and the design pattern, I believed choosing CM as my career starting point was a great opition. As a medium scale company, CM provided numerous opportunities for me to gain various knowledge from different departments. Moreover, designing the toy project was fun and gave a stage for me to showcase my creativity.
Considering the company's position and the design pattern, I believed choosing CM as my career starting point was a great opition. As a medium scale company, CM provided numerous opportunities for me to gain various knowledge from different departments. Moreover, designing the toy project was fun and gave a stage for me to showcase my creativity.
My Role
As a junior designer, mainly I worked with the seniors and assisted them in finishing the projects. Also, I recommended and consulted with clients on the most appropriate product design based on their overall marketing goals.
I was in charge of the research, conceptualizing, designing, and modifying of 9 lines of 15 toy products for Toys ’R’ Us, Walmart, and in-house.
I participated in the design and development process (costing, manufacturing process, injection molding, spraying, pad printing, silk-screen printing, material choosing, writing the merchandise equipment proposal).
I launched over 15 products, and handled over 10 projects: 6.5-inch Foam dart gun
12-inch Foam dart gun
26-inch Foam dart gun
Toy vehicles (Soldier Force & Rescue Force)
Action figure toy set (Soldier Force & Rescue Force)
In the meantime, I used SLA, FDM 3D printing, and laser cut machine to create the product prototype and presented the idea to the boss and customers.
I launched over 15 products, and handled over 10 projects:
In the meantime, I used SLA, FDM 3D printing, and laser cut machine to create the product prototype and presented the idea to the boss and customers.
The Learnings
By working at Chapmei and on those projects I learned so many things, the main ones are:
Share your idea as soon as possible in order to not go in the wrong direction. It is because usually before starting production, the company needs to make a lot of cost decisions. We are responsible to discuss with the experienced seniors before making any decisions.
Control the production cost during the observation and design stage. It enables us to see which area we can improve and decrease the cost, e.g.(combining the molding tools by the using the same color on the plastic parts).
Always put yourself in others shoes. When I can think from different perspectives, it is easier to communicate with different teams such as engineering, marketing, production, and graphic teams, and to find solutions with cooperation.
Acquire research and development skills on the toy products market. By participating in the projects, I'm capable to create designs that fulfill the needs in the target market.