Koby Trout
is an industrial designer and product strategist based in New York City with a multi-faceted design approach that is grounded in empathetic observation, driven by tenacious curiosity, and realized through meticulous creation.
Currently a Sr. Industrial Designer at Leadoff Studio, Koby seeks to create purposeful solutions across packaging, products, and furniture – collaborating with partners of all scales and sectors to redefine product experiences and relationships while championing meaningful, long-lasting, and sustainable solutions.
With previous experience at Atlason Studio, PepsiCo’s Global Product Design + Innovation team, Smart Design, Procter & Gamble, and startup design consultancy – BZDesign, Koby has developed a unique approach to the design process that can adapt to varying industries, cultures, and technologies.
Koby has a passion for learning and developing new skillsets, including rapid prototyping / 3D printing, Virtual Reality, and 3D animation / rendering. Koby graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a BFA in Industrial Design, a minor in Entrepreneurship, and a concentration in Advertising + Communications.
Experience
Leadoff Studio
Senior Industrial Designer
April 2024 – Present
Leading design and strategy of product and brand projects that prioritize health, wellness, and sustainability. Collaborating with clients, brand and manufacturing partners to deliver impactful and actionable results. Actively mentoring designers to enhance their skills and stepping into various aspects of the design process to support the team’s creative vision and success.
NiCE ltd.
Senior Industrial Designer
February 2022 – April 2024
Delivering strategic product, packaging and innovation design work across a wide variety of consumer sectors (including home goods, personal care, beauty, fragrance) by partnering closely with brand leaders and development teams from startups to global corporations.
ATLASON / studio
Senior Industrial Designer
July 2021 – February 2022
Creating design solutions across packaging, products, and furniture – collaborating with partners of all scales and sectors to redefine product experiences and relationships while championing meaningful, elevated, and sustainable solutions.
PepsiCo
Senior Designer,
Innovation
January 2018 – July 2021
Contributed to strategic projects and initiatives intended to promote and integrate Design and a “design thinking” approach into PepsiCo’s DNA – balancing desirability, feasibility, and viability to deliver relevant, educated, and differentiated products, services, and business models which are breakthrough, yet achievable. Leveraging key projects to promote and prioritize sustainable practices, healthy ingredients, and consumer needs across PepsiCo’s vast global portfolio of foods and beverages.
PepsiCo
Industrial
Designer
June 2016 – January 2018
Designed and developed structural packaging for the global beverage business to create global equity and elevate the consumer experience across PepsiCo’s brands. Partnered with R+D, Marketing, and global businesses to foster and spread human-centered design thinking as a tool to create value for the company, its customers, and consumers.
bzdesign
Industrial Designer
February 2014 – June 2016
Lead and contributed to the growing studio’s agile and multi-faceted design approach, tapping into and accelerating the blossoming local startup culture, often with the intent to develop a client’s first commercial product. Product categories include optics, medical devices, wearable technology, humanitarian efforts, augmented reality, consumer products, and other ventures.
Smart Design
Industrial Design
Intern
June 2015 – August 2015
Procter & Gamble
Industrial Design
Co-op
June 2014 – August 2014
Education
Rochester Institute of Technology
BFA Industrial Design
Class of 2016