Steve Ko
1. Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your background.
I am the general manager, lead product designer and founding member of Anaccord Electronic CO., Ltd, a professional audio products developer with offices and production facilities in Australia, Taiwan and China. As a second generation of a well established audio speaker manufacturer. I had developed an acute sense of audio related products development at a very young age. However, I also understand that a really successful product design needs to stand the test in real business scenarios, the product has to be market driven . That's why I decided to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce in Australia before I started Anaccord.
2. What made you become/why did you choose to become a product designer?
Born and raised as the 2nd generation of a well established Taiwan Owned Audio Speaker Product manufacturer, I had learned a great deal in the "Audio Aspect" of what makes a good audio speaker product. But I always feel that the design in the current installation speaker market should also have more aesthetic appeal on the exterior design. That's why I gathered a team with more than 20 years expertise to start Anaccord Electronic Technology as my lifetime passion to create great design, starting with Audio products and perhaps expanding to other aspects as well.
3. Tell us more about your business/company, job profile, and what you do.
Anaccord Electronic Technology is a Australia, Taiwan & China Based leading audio product developer of audio related products with offices and manufacturing facilities that stretched across Australia, Taiwan and China. like power audio amplifiers and sound engineering solution for consumer electronic, business and industrial applications.
Apart from overseeing the daily operations as a GM , I am also the lead designer in Anaccord 's Flagship product segment where each year or two, will lead a special project team to develop a flagship audio products as a "show of muscles" with our latest technology and design skills that goes beyond the need of quality sound , but also in terms of durability, light weight, easy to install and a touch of aesthetic in the exterior design.
4. What does “design” mean to you?
Design is the expression of the perfect integration of robust structure, user friendly functionality and eye appealing exterior.
5. What’s your favorite kind of design and why?
Any design with eye pleasing exterior that seamlessly merged with it's intended function, and made with high quality material and long term durability. Because it's easier to have a good looking design without function or great functionality at the expense of appealing look and feel. Is a real challenge to merge these together as a core design concept.
6. To you, what makes a “good” design?
A good design must perform what it intends to do in terms of function and user friendliness. But a great design have to go further beyond and can connect the user with the product to a touch of humanity and aesthetic beauty
7. Describe your design style and its main characteristics.
Love and First Sight Exterior
User Friendliness
Attention to Detail
Built with Robust and Durable Material
8. Tell us about your design process.
Our design starts with the assessment of the market most successful product and also the feed back from our client on our current product. where we will find new untouched or missed opportunities whether in terms of functions, design or new trending market needs. From there we begin the building of the 1st core of design , which is for the speaker to deliver a well balanced outstanding audio performance. We move further to the 2nd core of wrapping it up with the external housing with aesthetic appeal. The 3rd and final core will be the integration of new structure, technology for further enhancement of the product. But the most important of all, will be the ongoing vigorous testing to ensure all the 3 cores merge perfectly together.
9. Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your design process?
Yes. As Taiwanese, we were taught to always lay a good foundation before anything else through hardwork and perseverance. As we were told” Learn to squat before you stand and walk, walk steadily before you run, run far enough before you fly. Every step counts.”
10. Congratulations! As the winner of the 2023 NY Product Design Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
Though this is not the only award that RUBY XSpira IPX66 waterproof wall mount coaxial speaker had received, but NY Product Design Awards being the world leading design location is a great encouragement for us , especially with the expertise and credibility of the jury gathered.This award had definitely be our most honored highlight of the year
11. Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2023 NY Product Design Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
The 2nd Signature Design from our RUBY series , RUBY XSpira IPX66 Waterproof Coaxial Wall Mount Desktop Speakers is by far the most ambitious audio speaker design initiatives packed with some of the latest Anaccord’s very smart design and technology. We intend to develop this design to be a market driven product. And we believe that the professionalism of NY Product Design Awards can really help us determine how well we have done in this aspect.
12. What was the biggest challenge with this project?
The biggest challenge can be elaborated in 2 parts. The first being the implementation of using Coaxial Speakers in a wall mount speakers design. Coaxial speakers are normally used in car audio because of its small and compact nature, but often the audio performance is less ideal than using the regular 2 piece speaker structure for wall mount. This brings us to the 2nd part of Ruby XSpira,-the Mesmerising Spiral Sonic Knots on the front that resembles the shape of the Celtic Five-Fold Symbol represents the five elements, water, fire, air, earth, and the spirit.and are thought to be the very foundations for life itself.
But this Spiral Knots is also part of Anaccord’s Spiral Sound Waves (SSW) Enhancement Technology. This unique design not only looks good, when work together with the special wide arc on the front housing, it helps create a super wide angle of 62° vertical and 78° horizontal audio reach (normally 30° to 45°)
It took us more than 2 years of vigorous testing and experimenting to perfectly integrate these 2 elements of RUBY XSPira.
13. How has winning an award developed your practice/career?
To the design team, winning NY Product Design Awards is not only a challenge to see whether the design can stand the test of the market, but is also a gateway for the product to be made known to the world through the expertise of the prestigious jury of the award.
14. What are your top three (3) favorite things about our industry?
Undaunted Creativity with Practicability
Continuous and Never Ending Innovation
The Pursuit of Human Driven Technology and Design
15. What makes your country specifically, unique in the design industry?
Ranked 5th out of 42 economies in the Asia–Pacific region with an overall score well above the world average, Taiwan is a unique and friendly place not only in the business world but also in trending design and innovation. As one of the most sought after markets by major global brands With a 23.34 million population who are very open and receptive to new concepts yet retaining its unique culture, Taiwan is always flourishing with great designs and ideas.
16. Where do you see the evolution of design industry going over the next 5-10 years?
We believe that with the advancement of 5G technology, the product design process will be way flexible and faster where talents from around the world can come together for more in-depth collaboration to create great designs
17. Who has inspired you in your life and why?
My parents, who had taught me the virtue of hard work and the strength of perseverance.
18. What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
Never be too early to say what can or cannot be done. Behind every design challenge also comes with untapped opportunities you can leverage on.
