was born in Taiwan, graduated from Royal College of Art ( Innovation Design Engineering ), UK. He has received three master degrees, including MA ( Industrial Design ), MSc ( Electronic Engineering ),
and MSc ( Innovation Engineering ). He is addicted to design, and is particularly good at Product Innovation Design, Finding Great Insights through User-Centered Design Research, User Experience Design and Storytelling. His super power is connecting the dots from different aspects and fields within his diverse background.
River has received over 35 prestigious international product design awards since 2010, including IDEA Awards, Red Dot Awards, iF Awards, and D&AD Awards. Furthermore, River has applied for over 25 patents for Kohler, including 7 invention patents, 11 utility patents, and 7 design patents since 2015.
River Cheng
Work Experience
KOHLER (Lead Designer)
OCT/2016 - Present
- Lead the KOHLER Electronics Consumer Product team from Research Phase to Manufacturing Phase.
- Find Great Insights through User-Centered Design Research
- User Experience Design
- Product Line Strategy.
- Storytelling. Help all teams tell the great stories for the products.
- Design KOHLER electronic consumer products, including Intelligent Toilet ; Bidet ; Bathroom Heater ; Steamer ;
Water Filtration Products (Pre-filter, Softener, RO, UF) ; Commercial Products (Soap dispenser, Urinal sensor, Hand dryer)
- 20 Products Launched, 13 International Product Design Awards, Over 25 Patents applied for
TONGJI UNIVERSITY (Visiting Tutor / Lecturer)
SEP/2014 - AUG/2016
- Lecture of "Design Thinking & Design Methodology".
- Weekly tutorial with 3rd/4th year students' group/solo projects. (Industrial Design Department)
KOHLER (Senior Staff Designer)
OCT/2014 - SEP/2016
- Lead the KOHLER Electronics Consumer Product team from Research Phase to Manufacturing Phase.
- Design KOHLER electronic consumer products, including Intelligent Toilet ; Bathroom Heater ; Mirror Cabinet ; Steamer ;
Water Filtration Products (Pre-filter, Softener, RO, UF) ; Commercial Products (Soap dispenser, Urinal sensor, Hand dryer)
- Find Great Insights through User-Centered Design Research
- User Experience Design
- Product Line Strategy.
- Storytelling. Help all teams tell the great stories for the products.
- Launched Product :
Bidet : KOHLER Bidet C3-150, C3-050, KARING+ Intelligent Toilet
Water : Pre-FIlter, Softener, RO Undercounter
Others : Bathroom Heater, Hand Dryer, Soap Dispenser (Public Commercial Products).
KOHLER (Senior Designer)
SEP/2013 - SEP/2014
- Design KOHLER Electronic Consumer Products, including Bidet, and Water filtration Device
- Find Great Insights through User-Centered Design Research
- User Experience Design & User interface Design.
- Product Line Strategy.
- Storytelling. Help all teams tell the great stories for the products.
IDEO (Product Designer)
AUG/2012 - MAY/2013
- Induction Cooker, Innovation Product & Strategy Project / UX & Product Design (Core team member)
- Hypermarket, Innovation Product & Strategy Project / User-Centered Design Research & UX & PD (Core team member)
- Toy, Product & Strategy Project / User-Centered Design Research & UX & PD (Core team member)
- 2 International Golden Awards
FORD (Advanced Product Group, Innovation Designer) / Intern
JUL/2011 - SEP/2011
- Luxury Mini Bus - Interior Innovation Function Design
- Cross Car Line - Innovation Function & Product Design
Industrial Technology Research Institute (IC Designer)
JAN/2006 - AUG/2010
- Innovation Design
- Smart Car Algorithm Design
- H.264 Image Processing Encoder/Decoder IC Design
- 2 Journals & 1 Invention Patent
2010 - present
2010 - present
Education
Royal College of Art (Innovation Design Engineering)
2010 - 2012, MA
Imperial College London (Innovation Design Engineering)
2010 - 2012, MSc
National Taiwan University (Electronics Engineering)
2003 - 2005, MSc
National Cheng Kung University (Engineering Science)
1999 - 2003, BA
Bursary
2012 James Dyson Foundation Bursary
Awards
2017 IF Design Award : S+
2017 IF Design Award : KOHLER AERODYNE (Water Filtration)
2016 IDEA Award : KOHLER QUARTZ (Bronze)
2016 Red Dot Design Award : KOHLER C3-050 (Bidet)
2016 Red Dot Design Award : KOHLER CARAFE (RO Water Filtration)
2016 Red Dot Design Award : KOHLER QUARTZ (Soap Dispenser)
2016 IF Design Award : KOHLER KARING+ (Intelligent Toilet)
2016 IF Design Award : KOHLER QUARTZ (Soap Dispenser)
2016 IF Design Award : KOHLER Bathroom Steward
2016 IF Design Award : KOHLER TOOBI (Water Pre-Filter)
2015 IDEA Award : KOHLER RO Undercounter (Finalist)
2015 IDEA Award : KOHLER KARING+ Intelligent Toilet (Finalist)
2015 IDEA Award : KOHLER C3-150 Bidet (Finalist)
2015 IF Design Award : KOHLER C3-150 Bidet
2013 MarketingEvent Awards 2013: Gold Award (Best Venue Experience)
2013 MarketingEvent Awards 2013: Gold Award (Best Use of Retail)
2012 Core77 Design Awards : Smart Touch (Runner up)
2012 Core77 Design Awards : E-Mailbox (Notable)
2012 Helen Hamlyn Design Awards, Royal College of Art : Smart Touch
2012 PININFARINA Design Contest : Smart Touch (3rd Prize)
2012 IDEA Student Award : Flexible Colander (Finalist)
2012 IDEA Student Award : Warning Wiper (Finalist)
2012 RSA Student Awards : Smart Touch (Highly Commended)
2012 RSA Student Awards : Pulse Glasses (Finalist)
2012 iF concept award : Electronic Magnifier (300 Preselection)
2011 Spark Awards: Concept_Fall_Winter : Flexible Colander (Bronze Award)
2011 Spark Awards: Concept_Fall_Winter : Injection Reminder (Finalist)
2011 Spark Awards: Concept_Fall_Winter : Breakdown User Guide Safety Vest (Finalist)
2011 D&AD Student Awards : In-Book Award: WindScreen Warning Wiper (Product Design)
2011 London 2012 Olympic Games Podium Design Competition (Finalist)
2011 iF concept award : BraillPadScan
2010 Red dot design award: design concept : Full-Rear-View WindScreen Monitor
2010 Red dot design award: design concept : Retractable Tape Cord
2010 Red dot design award: design concept : G.P.Stamp
2009 Winner Award in AIC Student Design Awards, Product Design
2008 6th Future Technology Creativity Contest, held by ITRI, Taiwan : My Eyes (3rd Prize)
2007 5th Future Technology Creativity Contest, held by ITRI, Taiwan : Vocal Bible (3rd Prize)
2006 MEN's UNO Model competition TOP 20, held by famous fashion magazine "MEN's UNO"
2004 MEN's UNO Model competition TOP 20, held by famous fashion magazine "MEN's UNO"
1994 11th Science Imaginary Painting Fair held by National Taiwan Science Centre（Excellent Work）
Patent & Paper
A Structure for a Bidet to Avoid Using Screw on the Main Surface
UTILITY PATENT, CN205444371U, Applied Country: China, Aug/2016
A System for a Water Purifier to Ensure Water is Sterile from Inlet to Outlet
INVENTION PATENT, CN105776717A, Applied Country: China, Jul/2016
An Intuitive and Interactive Design to Indicate the Soap when Dispensing
UTILITY PATENT, CN205181203U, Applied Country: China, Apr/2016
A Bended Pipe Design for a Soap Dispenser to Prevent the Soap from Dripping
UTILITY PATENT, CN205181204U, Applied Country: China, Apr/2016
A Structure Design for a Bathroom Heater with a Glass Surface and PVD Sputter Plating
UTILITY PATENT, CN205174515U, Applied Country: China, Apr/2016
An inclined Side Panel Design for a Bidet
DESIGN PATENT, CN303649088S, Applied Country: China, Apr/2016
A Control Process for An ion Generator embedded in the Bathroom Heater
INVENTION PATENT, CN105387516A, Applied Country: China, Mar/2016
An Intuitive and Interactive Design for the Soap Dispenser
INVENTION PATENT, CN105231925A, Applied Country: China, Jan/2016
A Bathroom Heater with a Glass Surface and PVD Sputter Plating
DESIGN PATENT, CN303566262S, Applied Country: China, Jan/2016
A Posture Reminder Device and System for the integrated Toilet
INVENTION PATENT, CN105155462A, Applied Country: China, Dec/2015
A Blowing Design for a Soap Dispenser to Prevent Soap from Dripping
INVENTION PATENT, CN105167688A, Applied Country: China, Dec/2015
An Under Counter Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration Design
DESIGN PATENT, CN303481088S, Applied Country: China, Dec/2015
A Pre-Filter Design
DESIGN PATENT, CN303416579S, Applied Country: China, Oct/2015
A Pre-Filter Design with A Pressure-release Valve
DESIGN PATENT, CN303416578S, Applied Country: China, Oct/2015
A Water Filtration Mechanical and System Design for the Integrated Toilet and Bidet
UTILITY PATENT, CN204551612U, Applied Country: China, Aug/2015
A Transparent Wand Design for the Intelligent Toilet and Bidet
UTILITY PATENT, CN204551662U, Applied Country: China, Aug/2015
A Hygienic System to Clean and Sanitise the Wand for the Bidet and Intelligent toilet
INVENTION PATENT, CN104532933A, Applied Country: China, Apr/2015
A Posture Reminder Device and System for the integrated Toilet
INVENTION PATENT, CN104060663A, Applied Country: China, Sep/2014
An Innovative Fume Extractor by Using Only One Motor to Blow and Extract Simultaneously
UTILITY PATENT, TWM445677, Applied Country: US, Taiwan, Jan/2013
Bandwidth Optimized Hardware Design for Motion Compensation Memory Access
INVENTION PATENT, TWI386067, Applied Country: US, Taiwan, Feb/2013
Bandwidth Optimized Hardware Design for Motion Compensation Memory Access
JOURNAL, SEP/2008
The Current and Emerging Sensor Technologies, applied on Intelligent vehicle collision warning
JOURNAL, JUN/2006