PASSIONATE LEADER AROUSING ENTHUSIASM

River has launched over 50 products, applied for more than 60 patents, and received 70+ international design awards, including the iF Design Award, Red Dot Award, Good Design Award, and IDEA Gold & Silver Awards.

With over a decade of experience in Industrial Design, User-Centered Design, Innovation, and Design Strategy, River is a creative leader driven by curiosity and empathy.

From 2020 to 2023, he served as Design Director at frog, leading Industrial and UX design projects that seamlessly combined deep user insights with strategic innovation.

Before joining frog, River was Director of Innovation Consulting at Continuum, where he led comprehensive user research to uncover root problems and translate insights into breakthrough product solutions.

Earlier in his career, he spent five years at KOHLER as a Lead Industrial Designer, guiding a team from early research and concept development through to production. During this time, many of his designs were successfully launched and patented.

Beyond his professional practice, River also contributes to the next generation of designers as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) and a Guest Tutor at Tongji University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

GREAT ABSTRACT REASONING — THE ABILITY TO SYNTHESIZE THE RIGHT PROBLEMS

In the Caliper Assessment, River achieved an almost perfect score in Abstract Reasoning — the ability to synthesize complex information, connect patterns, and draw clear conclusions. This capability allows him to analyze underlying issues, identify root causes, and uncover hidden opportunities, forming the foundation of his problem-solving mindset.

It’s this analytical depth that makes River a powerful design strategist and insight finder. Most of his award-winning projects are grounded in strong insights discovered through user-centered research, turning observation into innovation.

Before joining KOHLER, River worked at IDEO as a Product Designer, where he honed his ability to merge creativity with logic. His years of experience at frog, Continuum, IDEO, and the Royal College of Art have shaped a designer who bridges human empathy with strategic thinking — delivering solutions that are both meaningful and impactful.

CONNECT THE DOTS WITH HIS DIVERSE BACKGROUND TO SOLVE PROBLEMS

River holds three master’s degrees — an MA in Innovation Design Engineering from the Royal College of Art (London), an MSc in Innovation Design Engineering from Imperial College London, and an MSc in Electronic Engineering from National Taiwan University (NTU).

He began his career at the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) in Taiwan as an IC Designer, working on projects such as self-driving car systems and H.264 video encoders. With more than a decade of engineering experience, River brings a deep technological foundation to his design practice, enabling him to merge technical feasibility with creative innovation.

Since 2013, he has applied for over 50 patents, including 9 invention patents and 25 utility patents. By combining a strong engineering background with experience at both top global design consultancies and world-class in-house design studios, River has developed a profound ability to lead highly technical projects through user research, insights, and design strategy.

Curious across disciplines, River excels at connecting the dots — transforming diverse experiences into insight-driven, meaningful innovation. This multidisciplinary mindset has enabled him to create breakthrough products for global brands such as Nike, Shokz, Midea, Suntory, Starbucks, Ford, Coca-Cola, Samsung, and Kohler, improving millions of lives through the fusion of technology and design.