The Bridge between Design and Manufacturing

Hi, my names is A-Gan. I’m a prototype engineer at ASUS. I’ve been with ASUS for over six years

Why I love my job

It’s very gratifying for me to work with my colleagues and build a prototype with my own hands. That’s part of the reason why I love this job. The prototypes that we build help ASUS in-house designers bring their ideas to life, test the practicality of their current design, and see if there’s room for improvement. Having an in-house prototype team allows for seamless integration with the in-house design team, while at the same time ensuring confidentiality during the product development stage.

I think prototyping is really important because the process can bridge the gap between concept and manufacturing. It ensures a concept can be realized and the product manufactured efficiently and cost effectively. My background in industrial design really helps me to play my role well.

Keeping up with the times
As you know, ASUS is a leading technology company that is continuously in search of the incredible. And, our industry is very exciting and fast-changing. As a result, my job requires me to keep up with the latest trends in design, materials, technologies, ergonomics, and so on. We also have to be very aware of the impact of socio-economic conditions on how users interact with tech products. For instance, the pandemic has altered the way people work, play, and learn, as well as further increasing the time that people spend with their laptops or other preferred devices. So, it’s important to take all these factors into account when a new product line is developed, and I’m glad that I can play a part in helping deliver more incredible to our users.

The iconic concentric circles pattern that complements the ASUS logo and the ROG Slash logo were both born in the hands of the prototype team.

Our collaboration with BMW Designworks Group
Sometimes ASUS teams up with external partners to look ahead to what’s next. For example, ROG collaborated with BMW Designworks Group to explore the future of gaming laptops with the ROG Face Off concept. These laptops were built for demonstration purposes only and aimed to explore the possibilities of design. I had the pleasure to participate in that project and help build the prototypes.

ROG designers put in a lot of effort to make the concept unmistakably ROG, while also drawing inspiration from BMW Designworks Group’s automotive designs, from the laptop’s sleek exterior and unique hue, to the “gills” flanking the sides and unique lighting. To achieve this concept, the prototyping team had to step out of our comfort zone and venture into new grounds. All the team members brought our prototyping skills up a notch because we really wanted to bring this cool concept to life. All our effort paid off when we successfully wowed our partners at BMW Designworks Group and grabbed the attention of the media and visitors at a number of trade shows, where we showcased the new concept.

The knowledge and skills I have gained from these types of collaborations have become some of my greatest assets. I know I can draw on them to enrich my next projects and to imagine even more incredible designs.

A glimpse into the ASUS prototype lab

I would love to show you my workspace in our prototype lab, but unfortunately it is a restricted area. But, I am able to give you a little peek. If you want to see more, why not join the ASUS prototype team!