John Hong
Stanford, CA


I am a product designer who operates at the junction of software and hardware. From machine interfaces to mobile/web platforms, I design experiences through a lens that places people at the heart of innovation.

With a MS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford, specializing in physical product design and manufacturing, and a BS in Product Design from Stanford, I blend technical expertise with a deep foundation in human-centered design to create meaningful, impactful solutions.

Professional Work

Projects
· Hardware
· Software
· Art

About Me
           Quintessence

Objective
Design a mechanical system that allows the extraction of drinkable 9-bar espresso.

Design & Fabrication
Generative design (Fusion360) to model a portafilter that would withstand the calculated forces for pulling a 9-bar shot with safety factor of 2.5, SLA printing with Tough2000 resin from Formlabs, manual lathe for piston interface for food safety, OTS component from Superkop (polycarbonate brew chamber), FDM printing for custom PLA prints of accessories (dosing funnel, WDT, distributer, tamper)

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Jan 2024 — Mar 2024
10 weeks




Injection-Molded Poker Chips

Objective
Design a mold insert with a custom design for a pre-machined mold while adhereing to the requirements and parameters outlined in the provided engineering drawings of the course (ME325) project prompt

Design & Fabrication
Turning on lathe (token insert), CNC machining (HaasVF2), injectin molding (ARBURG 375V)

Results
A set of pocker chips with a design that resembles the top of a blueberry.

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April 2025
2 weeks

One Micron Mechanism

Objective
Design a 1-degree-of-freedom mechanism guided by a metal flexure (prevent parasidic motion) to achieve translation with average position error ≤ 1µm and average repeatability: ≤ 1µm.

Design & Fabrication
Waterjet-cut aluminum (flexure), SLA-printed Durable resin (differential screw), FDM-printed PLA (body), other (laser-cut acrylic)

Results
RMS Position Error = 6.0951µm
Mean Repeatability Error = 7.2500µma

-> See More May 2024
3 weeks

To You in 6000 Years

Objective
Design a meaningful object for 3-axis CNC machining, involving 3 part flips and appropriate workholding strategies.

Design & Fabrication
Copper for material, 3 part flips (front, back, hole for necklace), wax for fixture, Fusion360 (CAD & CAM), CNC (HaasV2 & V2SS)

Story
In ancient Mesopotamia, people wore seals as necklaces, rolling them on clay to display their signatures. I made my own to pay homage to Mesopotamians and future people who'll study this seal in 6000 years, much like I do today.

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Mar 2023
3 weeks

Pharaoh’s Scream

Objective
Design a functioning whistle for 3-axis CNC machining within 1.6 cubic inches.

Design & Fabrication
Brass for material, 2 part flips for each component, Fusion360 (CAD & CAM), CNC (HaasV2 & V2SS)

Story
“Could a pharaoh have ever been ensnared alive within a sarcophagus?” is a thought that crossed my mind when I was brainstorming. After learning the mechanisms of Ancient Aztec death whistles, I combined the two ideas to design a whistle that echoes the cries of a confined pharaoh.

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Feb 2023
3 weeks




Machined Skateboard Truck

Obective
Design a product that uses at least 2 of the manufacturing processes available at the Product Realization Lab.

Design & Fabrication
Breaking away from conventional casting for skateboard trucks, I set out on a personal challenge to craft one entirely through machining. I meticulously created each component of this skateboard truck. This endeavor not only brought this aesthetically stunning piece to life but also allowed me to relish the exhilarating experience of riding it. I used Fusion360 (CAD), mill, lathe, steel, and aluminum for design and manufacturing.

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Sep 2021 — Dec 2021
10 weeks



Shape Optimized Luggage Handle

Obective
Design a product that utilizes both additive manufacturing and algorithmic modeling (generative design, shape optimization). 

Design & Fabrication
I designed and manufactured a spring-loaded luggage handle capable of holding 50 lbs in any orientation. Opting for shape optimization over generative design to better address ergonomic and use-case constraints, I used Fusion 360 for CAD, FEA, and optimization, and printed the final part on a Formlabs Form 3 in Tough 2000 resin.

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Jun 2022
3 weeks


Ergonomic Box Cutter Handle

Obective
Design a ergonomic product using human-centered research and design practices.

Design & Fabrication
Conventional box cutter handles often exclude users with limited grip strength due to their flat, narrow, and awkward geometry. Over a 3-week timeline, I conducted task analyses and consulted anthropometric data to inform an ergonomic redesign. I used pink foam modeling and RULA assessments for rapid prototyping and iteration, then created a surface-modeled CAD render in Fusion 360 alongside a refined, interactable pink foam model as the final deliverable.

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Mar 2022
4 weeks

Wizard of Oz Geneva Drive

Obective
Design and fabricate a mechanism with SolidWorks and laser cutting. 

Design & Fabrication
One of the most memorable movie scenes from my childhood is where Dorothy and her crew encounter the great Wizard of Oz in Emerald City. Using Illustrator and laser cutter, I recreated this iconic moment in the form of a Geneva drive where Oz’s head is the rotating drive and driven drive are flames. If you look closely, you may even find more Easter eggs!
Jun 2019
3 weeks