Inside Industrial Product Design: Insights from Goertek’s ID Lead Chen Li Chao

Interview Overview

The new column “Beyond the Interface” invites designers from other fields to share their stories. This edition features Chen Li Chao, ID design supervisor at Goertek’s Product Innovation Center.

Q: Please introduce yourself.

A: I am Chen Li Chao, based in Qingdao, Shandong. I graduated from Dalian University of Technology and have been working in industrial product design since 2009, starting with an internship at a design studio. I later worked at LOE Design, Haier Innovation Design Center, and joined Goertek in 2014, where I now lead the ID team.

What Does an Industrial Designer Do?

Industrial design is not just about creating a beautiful appearance. Designers must balance “design aesthetics” with “manufacturing constraints.” The process starts with brainstorming, concept sketches, and 2D/3D modeling to produce a complete design proposal. After the visual design is finalized, the product must be coordinated with the R&D team, refined repeatedly, and integrated with interaction and ergonomics teams to ensure functionality and usability.

Project Challenges

Q: Can you share a memorable project?

A: Designing the first PICO VR headset (PICO 1) was especially challenging. It was the company’s first flagship product, and the concept‑to‑production cycle involved many painful iterations.

Another notable project was the high‑end Haier TV series H9000. We defined a premium design language, focused on details such as frame material, color, and logo treatment, and aimed to set a new direction for the product line.

Chinese Industrial Design on the World Stage

China’s industrial design level is catching up with international standards, thanks to the rapid development of manufacturing and the growing global perspective of Chinese designers. Recent international awards demonstrate this progress, though high‑tech fields still need to learn advanced processes and research methods from abroad.

Advice for Aspiring Designers

To become an industrial designer, one should develop a keen sense of design trends, understand the core technical constraints that affect design, and possess strong aesthetic judgment. Continuous learning through reading, observation, and hands‑on practice is essential.

We welcome more designers to join us.