Zhao Jinzhou is an industrial designer at Mindray. He joined Mindray 7 years ago and has served as Senior Designer, Technical Manager, and Deputy Head of Department consecutively. During this period, his team designed Resona 7, MX/ME series, TE series and other star products in the ultrasound devices market, and won many international industrial design awards, including IF and Red Dot. These achievements can be attributed to Zhao Jinzhou's perseverance and commitment to his dream, as well as his team's customer-oriented efforts to continuously develop and innovate.
Q：
I've heard that it has always been your dream to be an industrial designer, please share with us your story before you joined Mindray.
A：
I consider myself to be a determined dreamer. I studied at Tongji University in Shanghai, but I had a dream of studying industrial design in Germany. As we all know, German products have always been a symbol of quality, and German universities are well-known for their industrial design departments. So I threw my knapsack over the brick wall, dropped out of Tongji University, and went to Germany. I learned German, applied for German universities, and finally got the chance to study industrial design at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Looking back, I'm very glad I made this brave decision because pursuing your goal in life is something you'll never regret.
I got my master's degree in 4 years, faster than the others because I took one more course than anyone else every year. I also worked as an intern in several companies, including Zwilling. After getting my master's degree in 2008, I chose to stay in Germany. The German economy hadn't recovered from the 2008 financial crisis at that time, but I managed to get a job as an industrial designer, and I stayed in this position for 5 years. During these 5 years, I was involved in the industrial design of many products, including household appliances, power tools, sanitary ware, kitchenware and so on. Working in Germany helped me learn many design skills, widen my horizon, and develop a design mindset, which greatly benefited me when I designed medical products later.
Q：
Why did you choose to return home and join Mindray?
A：
Germany has rich experience and mature concepts in the field of industrial design, but the overall industrial design industry in Germany is gradually slowing down. In contrast, the rapid development in China has generated a huge demand for bold and innovative industrial design that no other country can match. At that time, I wanted to hone my design mindset and skills by continuing to learn new things in such a challenging environment.
I joined Mindray because Mindray happened to offer me such a platform with both challenges and opportunities. I was also attracted by the innovative atmosphere and excellent environment in Shenzhen, where Mindray is headquartered. In addition, I was lucky to meet Mr. Zhou Xiang, one of the first medical product designers in China. Without his referral, I wouldn't have had the chance to join Mindray.
Q：
What was the biggest challenge for you when you joined Mindray? How did you solve it?
A：
I joined Mindray in 2013, and the biggest challenge for me at that time was how to learn the relevant knowledge about healthcare and medical devices, and get more familiar with Mindray products. In the first one or two years, I had to work hard to enhance my business knowledge, such as the features, workflows, and usage scenarios of existing products.
Q：
What's the biggest challenge for you now?
A：
Changes in my role and the expansion of my responsibilities are both challenges and opportunities for me. In terms of my business role, I have to gain more in-depth understanding of users in different segments, and focus on the needs and pain points of the next generation of medical providers. In terms of my managerial role, I also keep gaining new experiences and insights on management.
Q：
Looking back on the last 7 years in Mindray, what do you find most enjoyable or rewarding about your job?
A：
The most enjoyable moments are when we receive positive feedback from users. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, our products are used in so many hospitals and really helped treat patients. We are very happy about this, and it really brings home the value of our work.
Q：
How would you describe the team you lead now?
A：
Our team is a diverse team, where everyone has their own special characteristics. Team members are required to build excellent business skills, and they are also encouraged to show their personality, which will lead to more innovations.
Q：
What are your hobbies and interests?
A：
I love to travel, and I've gone to Yunnan on vacation for the last two years. I'm very impressed by the magnificent natural scenery and attractive ethnic culture of this southwest province. I even plan to live in Yunnan after retirement.
Q：
Any expectations or messages for your team?
A：
I hope that our designs will be more widely recognized by the global market and by medical providers around the world. The growth of Mindray is critical, of course, so that we can get more projects. I hope every team member can feel a sense of belonging and accomplishment, and that the whole team can become more and more cohesive, with everyone working towards a common goal.
