Hello, I'm Hiroki, a product designer based in NYC. I worked in Bridgestone's in-house startup in robotics industry as a product design / new business development lead, and as a freelance product designer, have been working on my own projects and collaboration with company who wants to create new business with innovative product. My approach is not just a typical product design approach, it's more unique concept driven approach which leads the company to new business development. By leaveraing my dual background in product design and new business development, I focus on transforming company assets (technology, brand story, etc) into new value by designing new flagship product with an unique concept. I'm always to happy to connect with companies who expect to create something unique, innovative and impactful. My portfolio site : _Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup_

Hiroki Nakayama

PRO

Hello, I'm Hiroki, a product designer based in NYC. I worked in Bridgestone's in-house startup in robotics industry as a product design / new business development lead, and as a freelance product designer, have been working on my own projects and collaboration with company who wants to create new business with innovative product. My approach is not just a typical product design approach, it's more unique concept driven approach which leads the company to new business development. By leaveraing my dual background in product design and new business development, I focus on transforming company assets (technology, brand story, etc) into new value by designing new flagship product with an unique concept. I'm always to happy to connect with companies who expect to create something unique, innovative and impactful. My portfolio site : _Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup_

Available to hire

Hello, I’m Hiroki, a product designer based in NYC. I worked in Bridgestone’s in-house startup in robotics industry as a product design / new business development lead, and as a freelance product designer, have been working on my own projects and collaboration with company who wants to create new business with innovative product.
My approach is not just a typical product design approach, it’s more unique concept driven approach which leads the company to new business development. By leaveraing my dual background in product design and new business development, I focus on transforming company assets (technology, brand story, etc) into new value by designing new flagship product with an unique concept.
I’m always to happy to connect with companies who expect to create something unique, innovative and impactful.

My portfolio site : Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup

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Language

Japanese
Fluent
English
Advanced

Work Experience

PRODUCT DESIGN / BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, Lead at Bridgestone Softborotics Ventures
August 31, 2022 - June 29, 2025
As a product design / business development lead in Bridgestone's first ever in-house start up, designed and launched new robotics business by transforming a technology “rubber artificial muscles” into a valuable, meaningful and market-ready solution from scratch. Rather that just a product design, it was more human-centered / user-centric design approach by exploring how physical interation with the robot would affect on people’s mind and feeling, based on unique design research collaborated with IDEO. One of robots, named “Morph” that I got involved as user experience designer, got Good Design Award in Japan in 2024. Beyond the design processes, I took as lead in new business development as well from end to end (product planning, sales, marketing, PR, pricing, etc) and executed them by ourselves rapidly as intraprenuers. In that journey, I experienced some specific business workstreams such as a capital and business alliance with a AI x robot start-up. Totally we designed and launched 3 robotics products and they already started to make an revenue in the market.
PRODUCT / MARKETING, Lead at Bridgestone Middle East & Africa FZE
September 1, 2020 - September 1, 2022
As a product manager, managed all consumer product (B2C) strategies, planning and launch executions for more than 50 countries in Middle East and Africa. Always started from understanding markets by market researches, and optimized product portfolio from multiple perspectives (Customer value, Product quality, COGS, Logistics leadtime, etc) to keep being competitive in the market. This position was more close to the market which is quite emerging and dynamic, so key responsibility I needed to deliver was to make directions and decisions, not just properly playing as project manager since players in the projects. And also by renovating some internal / external processes (sales, logistics, PR) which were bottleneck for the productivity, the team achieved 30% increase of sales from 2021 to 2022.
NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT at Bridgestone Corporation
May 31, 2018 - August 30, 2020
In the transition trend from product seller to solution provider, I was leading new solution business development in newly established department. My mission was to build new solution by digitalizing tire products. By collaborating internal and external engineers who specialize sensor technologies and AI / machine learning, I took a lead in creating new business model and implement it into the market. The business target was new mobility service provider (such as car sharing, e-scooter, etc) and road maintenance where the data from digitalized tires could bring new values in their operation. One of business model has commercialized and brought new revenue to the company.
NEW PRODUCT PLANNING, Staff at Bridgestone Corporation
April 1, 2015 - May 31, 2018
Started my career in a corporate function which manages global product strategy and planning for future brands and products (tire) by deeply understanding the market. This position was taking a role to manage all tire products in Bridgestone, therefore it always needed to collaborate with cross functional team that consists of 4-6 departments and 20-30 people per each projects. I was taking a lead in these projects from end to end (from concept making to the launch, based on stage gate process) as a project manager and product manager.

Education

Bachelor of Science at University of Tsukuba
April 1, 2011 - March 31, 2015
Data scienc
Specializaed Diploma at Kuwasawa Design School
April 1, 2023 - March 31, 2025
Product Design

Qualifications

Good Design Award
October 1, 2024 - October 1, 2024
New robot product "Morph" was awarded. I took a lead in experience design in the project.
SHACHIHATA New Product Design Competition
September 1, 2023 - September 1, 2023
Won the grand prize out of approx.1300 applications. This award is regarded as a springboard competition for emerging designers in Japan.
Milano Salone Satellite Exhihbition
April 1, 2025 - April 1, 2025
Selected to exhibit as an emerging designer at a world-renowned interior and furniture design fair.
Paris Design Week Exhibition
September 1, 2025 - September 1, 2025
Selected to exhibit as an emerging designer at a world-renowned interior and furniture design fair.
London Design Festival
September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
Selected to exhibit as an emerging designer at a world-renowned design fair.

Industry Experience

Manufacturing, Transportation & Logistics, Consumer Goods, Agriculture & Mining
    paper Punini, soft lighting pieces

    <Selected and Exhibited at Milano Salone Satellite 2025>

    What if people could interact with luminous pieces psychologically,not just by looking, but also by touching physically?
    Punini is a lamp piece that allows people to shape light intuitively — with their hands. Soft shape made of sillicone invites people to touch, and the way the lamp glows will change only when it’ s touched and squeezed, by a sensor embedded inside. As each person has different hands — and different memories of touch, an interaction with PUNINI invites a personal discovery — a shape that feels just right for you.​​​​​​​

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    paper Time in Soil, portable table lamp

    <Gold Award - NewYork Product Design Award >

    What if light could reveal the memory of the land?
    Soil is shaped over countless years, carrying the layered traces of lives, landscapes, and constructions. Unlike in ancient times—when it lived close to us in walls, pottery, and daily life—our dialogue with this material feels distant in the modern city. Time in Soil is a table lamp whose shade is made from soil, reflecting the unique context and memory of its origin.

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    paper F!nd !t, personal device

    “F!ND !t” is a device that marks the spark of discovery — that spontaneous “Oh!” when something stirs your heart.
    While riding your bike, you might pass a cozy café or catch a glimpse of a stunning view. Just press the “!” button — even if you’re in a hurry or your hands are full — and the moment is saved. All your impressions become part of a personal “!” map, stored in the connected app.
    This product idea was awarded the Grand Prize in SHACHIHATA New Product Design Competition 2023, out of 1,287 applications.

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    paper Well-being robot "umaru"

    The development of robotics has historically focused on functionality and physical performance for productivity. As our relationship with technology becomes ever closer, how might robots affect us not just physically, but also psychologically?
    Umaru is new type of robot, giving a little “blank space” in your daily life. Your tension and stress which we unconsciously feel in our daily life are released naturally by being embraced by a breath of soft, compliant and gentle robot “umaru”.

    paper New Zen-robot "Morph"

    New product design for new business development of Bridgestone. Their core technology “rubber artificial muscles” was transformed in the form of soft robot, and it embraces people to give deep relaxation physically and psychologically. This experience invites people to an emptiness similarly to Zen activity.
    I took a lead in concept design and experience design in the project.

    Video :