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Lee is born in Hong Kong. He comes to Parsons to study product design after considering a career in music.
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After Parsons, Lee works for architect Michael Graves, first managing the model shop and eventually creating products. He designs products for firms including Steelcase and Alessi. Lee enjoys working in a design team and decides on design as a career path.
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“At Parsons, I got a good conceptual grounding, which I feel ultimately helps you more than technical training does. You need both; but you have to go out and learn by doing.”
1990: Sam Farber launches OXO Good Grips with 15 products, including the iconic swivel peeler. AT M
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“A good conceptual grounding trains you to think creatively, in design or business.”
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Lee applies to Harvard Business School and gets in on his second try. At Harvard, Lee interns with Black & Decker’s Household Division, confirming his decision to work in home goods, furniture, or audio equipment. Narrowing his focus helps Lee’s job search.
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After a few years working with Graves, Lee tires of creating expensive decorative design objects and wants to make mass-distributed functional goods with a clean, modern aesthetic.
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Lee comes to believe that he would have more influence over the design direction of consumer product–manufacturing companies by entering firms from the business side.
“If designers don’t learn how to work with the business people, the business people will take over design.”
1992: Sam Farber sells OXO to General Housewares Corp. AT H
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Farber retires in 1995, and Lee is tapped as his successor. He builds a team of smart people who develop products together.
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OXO’s business grows, and the staff is reorganized from functional roles into teams for product categories. Headquarters are reconfigured to encourage collaboration while maintaining a flexible atelier-like environment.
After Harvard, Lee seeks work with design-driven businesses and gets six offers. He meets with Sam Farber.
1994: Sam Farber offers Lee a job. Intrigued by the opportunity to work with a successful entrepreneur, Lee joins OXO.
“For the first time in the United States, design gives companies a major competitive edge.”
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1997: OXO Good Grips launches its innovative salad spinner.
A pharmaceutical company approaches Lee about developing pre-filled syringes for self-administering rheumatoid arthritis medicine. The design challenge helps the company expand into new sectors.
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“At OXO, people have the freedom to take risks, to try things.”
By 1999, OXO’s award-winning product line includes 350 pieces, including ones created for national retailers in a range of markets: Williams-Sonoma, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Target. The firm’s annual growth consistently exceeds 30 percent.
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2009: OXO launches a line of children’s products (OXO Tot) and office products.
OXO adopts new business tools, such as a product development management software system, and develops a knowledge base to guide future work. Today the firm has 100 employees worldwide and a product line of about 850 items.