Akihiko Sugiura
About Akihiko Sugiura
Akihiko Sugiura is the Sr. Product Research Lead at Koko Home, where he collaborates with various teams to develop user-centered designs for emerging technologies. He has a background in Industrial Design and Mechanical Engineering, with extensive experience in product research and development.
Work at Koko Home
Akihiko Sugiura has been serving as the Sr. Product Research Lead at Koko Home since 2020. In this role, he collaborates with the Industrial Design and Electrical Engineering teams to explore product concepts and finalize designs. His responsibilities include managing Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) processes, ensuring effective communication with mechanical vendors. He plays a critical role in rapid troubleshooting and validation of product designs, contributing to the development of innovative solutions in the home technology sector.
Education and Expertise
Akihiko Sugiura holds a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design from Nihon University, where he studied from 2002 to 2006. Prior to this, he earned an Associate's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tokyo Metropolitan College of Technology, studying from 1997 to 2002. His expertise lies in user-centered design, particularly for emerging technologies such as IoT, robotics, AI, multimodal HMI, and AR/VR. This educational background supports his role in leading product research and development initiatives.
Background
Before joining Koko Home, Akihiko Sugiura worked in various roles that contributed to his extensive experience in product design and research. He served as a Product Research Lead at Koko Home from 2017 to 2020, where he focused on product development. His previous positions include working as a UX Designer at Tata Consultancy Services for one year and as a Design Engineer at Panasonic USA for seven years. These roles provided him with a solid foundation in design and engineering principles.
Achievements
In his current position at Koko Home, Akihiko Sugiura leads the development of AI and sensor-based remote patient monitoring devices, taking projects from concept to mass production. His involvement in these projects highlights his ability to integrate advanced technologies into practical applications. His work emphasizes the importance of user-centered design in creating effective and innovative products in the technology landscape.