Hello, I’m Thomas Ko. Growing up in Korea, Taiwan, New Jersey, and Orange County, I learned how to quickly adapt to new environments, languages and cultures. The one constant for me was sport; wrestling, Japanese fencing, swimming, soccer, and water polo. No matter where I lived, I had a structure that taught me how to think under pressure, read situations in real time, and how details make the difference.

Today, as an Industrial Designer with an athlete’s mindset, I specialize in performance footwear. With a focus on efficiencies of movement and comfort, I create structure that supports, enhances and aligns with the athletic experience. Highly conceptual, I create visuals that express brand identity, style and personality, blending aesthetic details that are evocative with an approach that is disciplined. I am inspired by athletes who keep showing up and pushing forward, that’s the way I design.