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Art of balancing is key in development process
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WHO is he?
Trung Phung, an award-winning designer, is the vice president of design for UPPAbaby, a leading brand of baby strollers and products renowned for being an innovative market leader. At UPPAbaby, he heads up the 13 person R&D team with responsibility for all product design, as well as the company’s overall graphics and marketing initiatives. Since joining UPPAbaby in 2006, he has led the innovation, inspiration and design behind the company’s award winning product line.
Tell us some of your works, and name the one you are most proud of.
Before UPPAbaby I had the opportunity to work in many different industries, from exercise equipment to instant cameras. I designed an iPod dock stereo system featuring a patented user interface that enabled music navigation in a way we all take for granted today with our smartphones but was unheard of back in 2003. The project I am most proud of would have to be our complete redesign of the VISTA that we introduced last year. It was especially challenging to maintain the excellent handling the VISTA has become known for while adding the functionality of all the configurations. It has since become our best selling stroller worldwide.
Are you currently involved with any project?
We are always working on new projects and have a pipeline of exciting products planned. We introduced the MESA, our first ever infant car seat, in 2013 in the United States and just recently brought it to Canada. We are incredibly proud of the safety innovations we were able to incorporate into the product. Giving the parent confirmation that their installation was correct through the SMARTSECURE system and our best in class crash test performance give them a peace of mind.
Can you describe your design style?
For me, the idea that I always come back to is balance. Throughout the development process you always have to juggle the needs of sometimes contradictory directions. Features vs cost, ease of use vs ease of manufacturing or form vs function. So for UPPAbaby, for example, these are complex objects for new parents so we try to make them as intuitive as possible by hiding the complexity wherever possible and highlighting the touch points while still making them easy to manufacture.
Where are you most creative?
My favorite are places that encourage my mind to wander and explore. This could be a quiet corner of a coffee shop, a gallery exhibit or a casual walk through SOHO in New York.
What does your home mean to you?
It’s where you build memories of shared experiences that will ultimately shape your priorities. Things that are important to me in creating our home environment stem from my fond memories growing up. For our family, we try to keep the atmosphere fun and positive at home. On any given day you can find us having a spontaneous dance party or a Nerf gun fight.
What do you collect?
There are a few products that I love to collect because they are such great examples of form and function. Watches have always fascinated me because the exterior form can sometimes hide such incredible complexity. I also love to collect sneakers.
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