My name is Shih, Shang-Po. Just call me Johnny or Shampoo because they are better to be memorized. I was born and grew up in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Since childhood, fashion and design have been my main interests. That’s why I chose the Department of Industrial Design at Taiwan’s National United University (NUUid) which is known for shoe design for my bachelor and master's degree.

 

Due to my leadership and communication skill, my classmates and teachers chose me to be the leader and convener of the graduate exhibition, and I always pushed all my partners in new, creative ways. After everyone's effort, our graduate exhibition was amazing! We got the most awards than ever. Our topic was “The First Person” and we combined experiential designs and dynamic catwalk show together. This creative way made us unique and caught visitors eyes. Moreover, we earned much more money than previous years. I believe that means people like and enjoy our works! 

 

During my studies, I completed a summer internship at New Star Shoes Co.Ltd in Dongguan, Guangdong. I finished three pairs of shoes from design to manufacture, and they were selected for two rookie awards, the Cool 100 prize and the Soulangh Design Award. It wasn’t only theory but more hands-on experience in this internship which was really worth and useful.

 

Before I graduated from university, my professor convinced me to stay two more years for a master’s degree by offering research funds and many interesting projects. Actually I had been thinking about marketing and management were also the key abilities to do really good designs in the future as well, and thereby I took the challenge because I could learn more about them in Master’s degree. During these two years, I was integrally in a number of diverse projects: Designing new technologies tools for elder care, assisting with the Kansei Engineering of the curves of Coca-Cola bottles, revitalizing the traditional crafts of Yuan-Li district, and teaching colleagues to improve their use of patent search software. It was hard to finish all of them in two years, but I did!  

 

My Master’s thesis was about exploring the aesthetic management and market positioning of leather shoe brands in Taiwan, and through this research I had many opportunities to interview directors and designers from many brands. Through these interactions, I learned how to create a brand, how to choose the target market, how to develop a different design gene from other brands, and where to find fashion information. I was so impressed by their hard work and courage, and I understood why people used to call Taiwan a kingdom of shoe making.

 

After these experiences, I have got the abilities of design, management and marketing, which are not only theory but hands-on experience.

 

After finishing 11 months of military service, I went to Australia improving my English at Milner International College of English. At the same time I was also working for PERTH888. My work centered on managing a hostel; I put advertisements online, took the phone calls, made appointments and introduced the rooms, facilities and explained how we charge the fee for the accommodation. In other hand, I made videos to promote Perth and showed backpackers’ life to the people around the world. During these works, I gained lots of interpersonal ability with foreigners. 

 

After I finished my study in Perth, I decided to go to East coast experience as more life styles as I could. Initially, I worked for Nivekeel design studio as a graphic designer for one month getting involved in many packages, novelties of kitchen ware designs. Afterwards, I went to a small town called Wallangarra working for Thomas Food International as a puncher for one month to experience the real backpacker's life style. It was really tough. However, through this I gained my willpower and disciplined my physical ability! Then I went to Brook Field farm WWOOFing for one month as well. I chased a flock of sheep, burned trees there to make paddock ready, picked rocks and made lots of yummy dishes from a wooden stove! Never be so close to nature before.

 

Now, I am just back to Taiwan and willing badly to settle down and start my career life.

Hope I can express all my talents, abilities and efforts to contribute this society and the company which I belong to.