HP Innovation Journal Issue 06: Spring 2017 | Page 20

MAKER SPOTLIGHT

Colorful side of innovation

HP ’ s Color Materials Finishes ( CMF ) Designer , Tiffany Chu , shares how she finds visual trends and inspiration everywhere from her travels to her kitchen . Learn how this Maker is crafting innovative designs for HP .
What is your favorite part about working at HP ?
I ’ ve been at HP for almost 5 years , and every day is like a new day because there are different challenges , yet also opportunities to create something new . I work on a wide range of projects — everything from consumer laptops to speakers , headphones , and tablets . I ’ m constantly learning .
I also feel empowered to bring new ideas to the table . My managers always encourage me to share my thoughts on concept and design possibilities , reminding me that anything is possible .
20 Innovation Journal · Issue 6 · Spring 2017
What projects have you worked on recently ?
I am responsible for creating and developing HP ’ s CMF strategy for the entire HP portfolio , including creating the color palette . The challenge is to use color palettes to segment each product line from entry to high-end , while making sure that the products have consistent look and feel for the HP family .
A good example is the colorful and playful HP Pavilion Laptop . I took inspiration from the sports industry and in particular , tennis shoes . I created a pattern with intricate details that created a 3-dimensional effect on the Pavilion keyboard deck .
HP Spectre is another exciting project I worked on . I found my color and materials inspiration everywhere from the jewelry industry to automobile and home décor . Being able to bring craftsmanship and authenticity to the product is my goal . During my research , I discovered copper was a trending color . The challenge was to find the perfect color hue for the copper hinges , keeping in mind the contrast with the dark silver body . The color combination makes the Spectre stand out from the competition and pushes the premium laptop to the next level .
What do you enjoy about the design process ?
Design for me is part of life - it expands my senses because I need to be very sensitive to early trends and use the world around me as inspiration . Also , it ’ s a process that allows me to think outside of the box while ensuring creativity is executed into mass production . I constantly find and research the coolest trends from other industry such as high fashion , jewelry design , furniture , architecture , and food . I attend various design show such as the annual Milan Furniture Fair , Germany ’ s International Trade Fair for Textiles and Nonwovens , ICFF ¬– a high-end luxury furniture fair in New York City – and The Color Workshop in UK , to name a few . Finding inspiration from other industries helps me to expand my imagination and creativity .
Once I uncover the latest trends in colors , materials , and lifestyle , I translate them into HP ’ s design language , and incorporate them into HP ’ s products . That is what excites me the most in my role .
Where do you find inspiration for your designs ?
I gather inspiration from daily life . Food inspires me . The taste , texture , color , smell , sounds and experience of food are my inspiration for design . Like a recipe , a flavorful design is the right mixture of ingredients , like materials experience , color stories , cultural research , and trends insights . Inviting close friends over to my place and sharing the food I make with them is rewarding . Good food and great company creates the best moments in life .
I love to travel too . Whenever I visit a new place , I gather inspiration from the city ’ s people , its stores and the overall atmosphere . The entire holistic experience of traveling inspires me to bring a fresh look and feel to my designs .
What ’ s the best advice you ’ ve received ?
My parents told me , “ find something you love to do and be happy doing it ” and “ keep learning and stay hungry for more knowledge .” And that is exactly what I ’ ve done at HP . •