London, UK
Po-Chih Lai was born in Taiwan and graduated with a degree in product design from the Royal College of Art in London in 2012. An enthusiastic entrepreneur with knowledge of engineering and design, he explores the intersection where a product’s beauty, functionality, and creativity meet. He believes that utility should not be less important than self-expression and that design is a communication tool.
The Ming dynasty is known for its humanist spirit and functional rationality and is often compared to the Renaissance. The Ming-El chair embodies this combination of maturity and culture in a piece of furniture.
The Stair Rover skateboard is made for skating down stairs. The board has eight wheels and a Y-shaped aluminum frame that can grip each step and slide: stairs become a new means of transport.
The Rapid Laminator was meant to facilitate the prototype design process. It laminates materials without the need for molds and can be adjusted to different shapes. The clamps can be moved horizontally and vertically, and their length and angles can be altered.
The Milk Brother emulsifier was inspired by the Moka Express pot (patented by Luigi De Ponti in 1933). This small invention creates froth in hot milk with a central valve. The steam from the coffee pot is stored in a separate compartment and then used to froth the milk.