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Join Renaud Anjoran, Founder & CEO of Sofeast, in this podcast aimed at importers who develop their own products as he discusses the hottest topics and shares actionable tips for manufacturing in China & Asia today!
WHO IS RENAUD?
Renaud is a French ISO 9001 & 14001 certified lead auditor, ASQ certified Quality Engineer and Quality Manager who has been working in the Chinese manufacturing industry since 2005. He is the founder of the Sofeast group that has over 200 staff globally and offers services (QA, product development & engineering, project management, Supply Chain Management, product compliance, reliability testing), contract manufacturing, and 3PL fulfillment for importers and businesses who develop their own products and buyers from China & SE Asia.
WHY LISTEN?
We‘ll discuss interesting topics for anyone who develops and sources their products from Asian suppliers and will share Renaud‘s decades of manufacturing experience, as well as inviting guests from the industry to get a different viewpoint. Our goal is to help you get better results and end up with suppliers and products that exceed your expectations!
Episodes
Friday Oct 10, 2025
Friday Oct 10, 2025
In this episode of China Manufacturing Decoded, host Adrian is joined by Vera Roldan, head of the design department at Sofeast, to unpack how industrial design links user needs, aesthetics, and manufacturability. Vera outlines the practical workflow: research, mood boards, sketches, 3D CAD, renders, and tight collaboration with engineering and suppliers; plus why bringing design in early prevents costly rework. They cover differences between electronics and home goods, balancing looks with cost, the rise of sustainability, and why startups must not skip prototyping or user testing.
Episode Sections:
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00:00:12 — Introducing Vera & the topic
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00:01:49 — Why industrial design matters (beyond looks)
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00:02:58 — Example: simplifying complexity & “design as insurance”
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00:05:02 — Getting started with an ID team: what to share in your brief
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00:07:50 — ID is consultative: research, sketches, 3D CAD, renders, handover
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00:10:42 — Electronics vs home goods: different constraints
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00:12:40 — Pitfalls of bringing design in late (rework, fit issues, cost)
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00:16:27 — Designers × engineers × suppliers: prototype feedback loops
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00:18:50 — What you should receive at the end of ID (deliverables)
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00:20:06 — Why hire a pro ID team vs doing it in-house
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00:21:27 — Balancing aesthetics and cost
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00:23:23 — Startups: don’t skip prototyping/user testing
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00:24:41 — Sustainability trends & competitive advantage
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00:25:41 — #1 thing for first-time creators: test with real users
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00:26:50 — Vera’s favourite design stage
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00:27:46 — Success story: UX focus transformed the outcome
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00:28:56 — Wrapping up
Related content...
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- Avoid Sending Immature Product Designs to a Chinese Manufacturer!
- AI Product Design: How to use AI early during Industrial Design (Examples)
- 3 Unmissable Product Design Optimizations
- Design Reviews: An Important Step Before New Product Launches
Get in touch with us
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- Connect with us on LinkedIn
- Contact us via Sofeast's contact page
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel
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