John Hong
San Francisco, CA

I’m a product designer working at the intersection of hardware and software. Whether it’s a machine interface, mobile/web app, or a physical product, I design experiences that put people at the center of innovation.

My background spans physical and digital domains, enabling me to conceive and execute holistic solutions across mediums. I hold a BS in Product Design (HCI focus) and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford, where I specialized in physical product design and manufacturing.

Currently, I’m a Product Design Engineer at Sanas.AI, designing the future of interlingual communication.


About Me

Professional Work

Projects
· Physical Design & Manufacturing
· Digital UX Design (Web, Mobile, VR/AR)
· Jewelry Design
Bloom

May — Jun 2025
5 Weeks Bloom is a unique coffe dripper that is portable and designed modularly for the manufacturing process of injection molding.

The form is inspired by a bloomed flower, and the form-function is also inspired by Hario’s Suiren dripper. While the Suiren is only compatible with V60 filters, bloom allows you to brew with both flatbottom and conical drippers, kind of like an Origami dripper.

This project was as part of ME325 (Injection Molding), my final coursework for my MS in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford.

Initial Prototypes



Design Considerations (Positive Geometry)






Design Considerations — Base Mold

Design Considerations — Petals





Mold CAM





Injection Simulations



Mold CNC Machining




Injection Molding






Optimizing Injection Molding Settings





Final Product (Video)

All the iterations and adjustments culminated in this final coffee dripper. While some defects remain—such as minor shrinkage and a few petals slightly rising after insertion—the major issue of petals popping out entirely has been resolved. The assembly is now functional and has been successfully tested with hot water and coffee.

The result is a one-of-a-kind dripper that accommodates both flat-bottom and conical filter papers, delivering an aesthetically pleasing brewing experience. Its modular assembly also adds a layer of portability, which an important feature for me, especially given the awkward geometries of conventional coffee drippers.



Final Product (Pictures)