Available to hire
Hi, I’m Andy D.O. Cao—a multidisciplinary industrial designer and engineer who bridges futuristic form with rigorous function. I create iconic visual identities and precision‑engineered hardware that redefine modern product standards.
I lead end-to-end product development from concept to mass production, collaborating with OEM/ODM partners, CMOs, and cross‑functional teams to deliver manufacturable, production‑ready solutions.
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Language
English
Fluent
Work Experience
Industrial Designer + Engineer at Fortinet
January 1, 2021 - PresentAs the sole industrial designer, I lead product development and DFM discussions, resulting in successful launches for products like the FortiCam-MC51 camera and the FortiExtenderRugged-511G outdoor Wi-Fi extender. Spearhead new concept incubation and demonstrate proof-of-concepts to senior stakeholders (C-suite). Manage extensive design reviews and feedback for various design aspects in collaboration with our overseas contract manufacturer.
Industrial Designer at Greenlane Holdings
April 1, 2020 - October 8, 2025Collaborated with the CMO to design three consumer electronic products and over 10 in-store marketing accessories for the US, Canadian, and European cannabis markets. Enhanced the company's marketing materials and external venues with updated product renders. Improved productivity by facilitating communication between Chinese suppliers and product managers.
Industrial Designer (intern) at Greenlane Holdings
April 1, 2019 - October 8, 2025Collaborated with mechanical engineers and the design lead to develop the second-generation CoreChair, presenting anthropometric research to clients. Adhered to BIFMA design guidelines for a cost-efficient and ergonomic office chair. Led 1:1 clay modeling for 3D scans, translating data points into SolidWorks.
Product Designer (freelance) at Inertia
September 1, 2018 - October 8, 2025Transformed user feedback into features, created wireframes for user interfaces, designed information architecture, and crafted a UI/UX playbook and style guide for Dystr.com (beta). Developed interactive prototypes for client presentations to investors and stakeholders.
Industrial Designer + Engineer at Fortinet
January 1, 2021 - PresentAs the sole industrial designer, I lead product development and DFM discussions, resulting in successful launches for products like the FortiCam-MC51 camera and the FortiExtenderRugged-511G outdoor Wi-Fi extender. Spearhead new concept incubation and demonstrate proof-of-concepts to senior stakeholders (C-suite). Manage extensive design reviews and feedback for various design aspects in collaboration with our overseas contract manufacturer.
Industrial Designer at Greenlane Holdings
April 1, 2020 - October 8, 2025Collaborated with the CMO to design three consumer electronic products and over 10 in-store marketing accessories for the US, Canadian, and European cannabis markets. Enhanced the company's marketing materials and external venues with updated product renders. Improved productivity by facilitating communication between Chinese suppliers and product managers.
Industrial Designer (intern) at Greenlane Holdings
April 1, 2019 - October 8, 2025Collaborated with mechanical engineers and the design lead to develop the second-generation CoreChair, presenting anthropometric research to clients. Adhered to BIFMA design guidelines for a cost-efficient and ergonomic office chair. Led 1:1 clay modeling for 3D scans, translating data points into SolidWorks.
Product Designer (freelance) at Inertia
September 1, 2018 - October 8, 2025Transformed user feedback into features, created wireframes for user interfaces, designed information architecture, and crafted a UI/UX playbook and style guide for Dystr.com (beta). Developed interactive prototypes for client presentations to investors and stakeholders.
Industrial Designer + Engineer at Fortinet
January 1, 2021 - PresentAs the sole industrial designer, I lead product development and DFM discussions, resulting in successful launches for FortiCam-MC51 and FortiExtender Rugged-511G outdoor Wi-Fi extender. I spearhead new concept incubation and demonstrate proof-of-concepts to senior stakeholders (C-suite). I manage extensive design reviews and feedback for various design aspects in collaboration with our overseas contract manufacturer.
Industrial Designer at Fortinet
January 1, 2021 - PresentCollaborated with the CMO to design three consumer electronic products and over 10 in-store marketing accessories for the US, Canadian, and European cannabis markets. Enhanced the company's marketing materials and external venues with updated product renders. Improved productivity by facilitating communication between Chinese suppliers and product managers.
Industrial Designer (intern) at Greenlane Holdings
April 1, 2020 - October 8, 2025Collaborated with mechanical engineers and the design lead to develop the second-generation CoreChair, presenting anthropometric research to clients. Adhered to BIFMA design guidelines for a cost-efficient and ergonomic office chair. Led 1:1 clay modeling for 3D scans, translating data points into SolidWorks.
Product Designer (freelance) at Inertia
September 1, 2018 - October 8, 2025Transformed user feedback into features, created wireframes for user interfaces, designed information architecture, and crafted a UI/UX playbook and style guide for Dystr.com (beta). Developed interactive prototypes for client presentations to investors and stakeholders.
Dystr at Dystr
December 1, 2020 - October 8, 2025Developed interactive prototypes for client presentations to investors and stakeholders.
Industrial Designer + Engineer at Fortinet
January 1, 2021 - PresentAs the sole industrial designer, I lead product development and DFM discussions, delivering launches for products like the FortiCam-MC51 camera and the FortiExtenderRugged-511G outdoor Wi-Fi extender. I drive concept incubation and demonstrate proof-of-concepts to senior stakeholders (C-suite). I manage extensive design reviews and feedback with our overseas contract manufacturer. Additionally, I collaborated with the CMO to design three consumer electronic products and over 10 in-store marketing accessories for cannabis markets, and enhanced marketing materials and venues with updated renders. I improved productivity by facilitating communication between Chinese suppliers and product managers.
Industrial Designer (Intern) at Greenlane Holdings
April 1, 2020 - October 8, 2025Collaborated with mechanical engineers and the design lead to develop the second-generation CoreChair, presenting anthropometric research to clients. Adhered to BIFMA design guidelines for a cost-efficient and ergonomic office chair. Led 1:1 clay modeling for 3D scans, translating data points into SolidWorks.
Product Designer (Freelance) at Inertia
September 1, 2018 - October 8, 2025Transformed user feedback into features, created wireframes for user interfaces, designed information architecture, and crafted a UI/UX playbook and style guide for Dystr.com (beta). Developed interactive prototypes for client presentations to investors and stakeholders.
Product Designer at Dystr
December 1, 2020 - October 8, 2025Senior Industrial Designer | Engineer at Fortinet
January 1, 2026 - PresentDirected industrial and mechanical design for global extender portfolios, establishing a next-generation Visual Brand Language (VBL) and unified Design DNA. Modernizes product aesthetics through production-ready Class A surfaces and C2 curvature continuity while leading the full NPI lifecycle from EVT through PVT. Leverages Mantis and Agile PLM to streamline cross-functional task tracking and BOM management, ensuring strict compliance with IP ratings and UL 746C standards. Finalizes CMF and tactile strategies in collaboration with ODM/OEM/JDM vendors to resolve engineering constraints and deliver high-quality mass production with minimal parting lines.
Intermediate Industrial Designer | Engineer at Fortinet
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2026Designed outdoor products to meet UL and ATEX compliance, achieving IP67-rated protections while strictly preserving design aesthetics. Managed the end-to-end development of the FEW-50G and FWR-50G extenders, translating hardware schematics into user-centric I/O layouts and integrated thermal management solutions. Spearheaded sustainable packaging initiatives, designing 100% recyclable pulp trays and optimized folding strategies to guarantee ISTA-3A shipping performance and a premium unboxing experience.
Industrial Designer | Engineer at Fortinet
January 1, 2021 - January 1, 2022Sole industrial designer for the R&D team, designed manufacturable housings for the FCM-MC51 IP camera and FER-511G outdoor extender. Translated conceptual sketches into detailed CAD models and photorealistic renderings to secure stakeholder buy-in by bridging design intent with mechanical feasibility. Partnered with overseas CMs to validate designs from EVT through PVT phases, ensuring a seamless transition from concept to mass production.
Industrial Designer at Greenlane
August 1, 2019 - April 1, 2020Developed and launched three consumer electronic portfolios and high-end child-resistant packaging for highly regulated US, Canadian, and European markets, collaborating with the CMO to align design with global brand strategy. Acted as the primary technical liaison with Chinese manufacturers, optimizing production workflows and resolving cross-border bottlenecks to accelerate speed-to-market. Elevated the company’s market presence by producing high-fidelity renderings that bridged early-stage concepts with final retail-ready solutions.
Industrial Designer at Inertia
August 1, 2019 - April 1, 2020Developed and launched three consumer electronic portfolios and high-end child-resistant packaging for highly regulated US, Canadian, and European markets, collaborating with the CMO to align design with global brand strategy. Acted as the primary technical liaison with Chinese manufacturers, optimizing production workflows and resolving cross-border bottlenecks to accelerate speed-to-market. Elevated the company’s market presence by producing high-fidelity renderings that bridged early-stage concepts with final retail-ready solutions.
Industrial Designer Intern
June 1, 2018 - September 1, 2018Collaborated with the design lead and mechanical engineers to develop the second-generation CoreChair using ergonomic anthropometric research. Ensured compliance with BIFMA safety standards while balancing cost and high performance. Led the physical-to-digital workflow via 1:1 clay modeling, 3D scanning, and complex SolidWorks PDM version control.
Education
MFA at Savannah College of Art and Design
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2019BASc at University of Waterloo
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2016Continuing Studies at OCAD University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2015MFA - Industrial Design at Savannah College of Art and Design
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2019BASc - Mechatronics Engineering at University of Waterloo
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2016Continuing Studies - Rhino CAD at OCAD University
January 11, 2030 - October 8, 2025MFA - Industrial Design at Savannah College of Art and Design
January 1, 2019 - October 8, 2025BASc - Mechatronics Engineering at University of Waterloo
January 1, 2016 - October 8, 2025Rhino CAD - Continuing Studies at OCAD University
January 1, 2015 - October 8, 2025MFA - Industrial Design at Savannah College of Art and Design
January 1, 2019 - October 8, 2025BASc - Mechatronics Engineering at University of Waterloo
January 1, 2016 - October 8, 2025Rhino CAD (Continuing Studies) at OCAD University Continuing Studies
January 1, 2015 - October 8, 2025BASc in Mechatronics Engineering at University of Waterloo
January 1, 2016 - June 9, 2026SCAD program at Savannah College of Art and Design
January 1, 2019 - June 9, 2026Qualifications
Rhino CAD
January 1, 2015 - October 8, 2025Industry Experience
Consumer Goods, Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Manufacturing, Computers & Electronics, Software & Internet, Retail, Telecommunications
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
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