Jun Lee
Partner, ReD Associates, New York
Jun focuses on the front end of product definition and development, with a specialty in consumer electronics, online services and telecommunications. Prior to joining ReD, Jun led research and development for new products at Samsung Electronics, based in Seoul, Korea. Jun holds a Masters in Communications from the Institute of Design (IIT) and a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience from Columbia University.
Keywords: consumer electronics, mobile telecommunications, pharmaceutical
Keywords: consumer electronics, mobile telecommunications, pharmaceutical
On Defining Products
For all the data, trends and indicators that market researchers bring to bear in defining what a product should be for whom, I've seen time and again how surprisingly simplistic these tools can be in describing people. Simplicity can serve to improve communication between research and development, but it can also undercut the nuances that feed into ideas that ultimately result in more delightful product ideas. Differentiation and relevance is what we seek - and that comes from fresh ways of understanding universal values that people aim to preserve, but do so in surprising and unique ways.
On Progress
In the fast-paced world of technology development, it sometimes feels time-consuming and unnecessary to challenge basic assumptions. After all, the industry has been working in concert, powered by bright people, to bring the best out of silicon and give the world what it wants - progress. Questions about what is next are often built on assumptions that have not been challenged for years.
However, I've found that the best insights come from going back to the basics and reexamining people's changing relationship to technology. Observing the evolution of how people play with, learn from and use technology to help themselves, develop and maintain relationships – these are the micro moments that add up to a wellspring of inspiration and a more people-centric perspective on progress.
For all the data, trends and indicators that market researchers bring to bear in defining what a product should be for whom, I've seen time and again how surprisingly simplistic these tools can be in describing people. Simplicity can serve to improve communication between research and development, but it can also undercut the nuances that feed into ideas that ultimately result in more delightful product ideas. Differentiation and relevance is what we seek - and that comes from fresh ways of understanding universal values that people aim to preserve, but do so in surprising and unique ways.
On Progress
In the fast-paced world of technology development, it sometimes feels time-consuming and unnecessary to challenge basic assumptions. After all, the industry has been working in concert, powered by bright people, to bring the best out of silicon and give the world what it wants - progress. Questions about what is next are often built on assumptions that have not been challenged for years.
However, I've found that the best insights come from going back to the basics and reexamining people's changing relationship to technology. Observing the evolution of how people play with, learn from and use technology to help themselves, develop and maintain relationships – these are the micro moments that add up to a wellspring of inspiration and a more people-centric perspective on progress.
