# Derek Niizawa > Industrial Design Lead at Sandisk Location: Sunnyvale, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/derekniizawa My passion is looking forward and creating products that will improve or solve a need not yet realized. My experience in both the physical design and digital user-experience allows me to visually communicate these ideas through the creative process and build them out to the mass production. I take pride in bridging gaps of new technology to user experience through the physical product. Working in corporate, consultant firm and startup environments has shaped my ability to balance marketing requirements, design intent and manufacturability. I embrace working with inter-disciplinary teams as a hands-on designer or leading team activities. I am seasoned with leading over-seas suppliers to innovate or improve physical manufacturing production ideas or leading digital teams through an agile process to execute compelling user experiences. One thing they all have in common is meeting aggressive timelines. ## Work Experience ### Industrial Design Lead @ Sandisk Jan 2025 – Present www.derekniizawa.com ### Principal, Industrial Designer @ Western Digital Jan 2017 – Jan 2025 www.derekniizawa.com ### Industrial/Product Design Lead: Retail Marketing @ SanDisk® Jan 2010 – Jan 2017 Accomplishments: iXpand Drive • Led the ID design process, optimization of internal component layouts, architecture of mechanical part assemblies, CMF review and CM management. • MFi member to assure the ID would fall within the MFi specifications. Connect Wireless Media Drive: • Defined the initial product category through internal brainstorms and market research. • Led the product design initiatives defining the user experience and industrial design through manufacturing execution. This includes overseeing a global cross-functional mechanical, mobile app, web, and firmware teams. • Managed mechanical and execution phases including EVT, DVT, PVT reviews, DFM and FEA analysis • Managed software development through RC and bug tracking (JIRA) SanDisk Wireless Qi Charger (MobileMate): • Evaluated the pros and cons of PMA vs. Qi (WPC) inductive technology. • Partnered with Samsung to execute our design intent and oversee mass production. Clip Zip and Sport: • Led the core ID and UI disciplines to develop 4 generations of the Clip MP3 player. This includes delivering the ID and UI specifications through managing our overseas partners working within OEM and CM production models. Patents: 7301596: Electronic Device with Dual Connector Actuator 7303411: Flash Drive Protective Door Mechanism D570871: View Media Player D570875: Clip MP3 Player: Gen 1 D580454: Rotating UI Icons D584743: Fuze Video Player D593066: slotMusic Player D594874: slotRadio Player D627758: Fuze+ Touch Player D656122: Clip Zip US20110090249 A1: Auto Generation of UI artwork US D703,669 S: Nimbus Texture ### Staff Industrial/Product Designer: A/V and Mobile BU @ SanDisk Jan 2008 – Jan 2010 Accomplishments: A/V Design Team: • Co-built an internal Industrial Design studio from 2 to 9 team members that were responsible for delivering industrial design, user interface, product design/architecture, and merchandising. Sansa SlotRadio Player: • As the lead designer, I played a key role in defining the “slotRadio” listening experience, which includes weekly updates to the executive team. Research new manufacturing processes, put key suppliers in place, created DOEs, and delivered an innovative product. Sansa line of MP3 products: • Designed a 3 tier lineup of MP3 and video players from good, better and best across multiple generations. Design research, industrial and product design, color trends, and manufacturing management. ### Product Design Engineer: Corporate Engineering @ SanDisk Jan 2005 – Jan 2008 Accomplishments: • Introduced and defined the Product Design process which included managing ID firms to help meet Marketing’s ultra aggressive timelines. We developed signature-branding elements and leveraged them across the product lines. My cross-functional role assured the ID and UX was well accepted internally, managed over-seas product designer partners to meet our quality specifications. • Managed the product design for several USB drives, external readers, and Mp3 players ### Senior Designer @ Ciro Design Jan 2004 – Jan 2005 ## Education ### Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Industrial and Product Design California State University, Long Beach ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekniizawa - Website: www.derekniizawa.com --- Source: https://flows.cv/derekniizawa JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/derekniizawa/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-07