Givi Asia's Lead Designer, A Girl From Kuala Kangsar
Founded in 1978, the Givi brand is now synonymous with motorcyclists, especially those who use motorcycle storage boxes. Givi products are well-known for being high-quality and durable. In short, owning Givi products is truly worthwhile as they offer great value for money.
Starting with motorcycle storage boxes, Givi now also produces other accessories such as riding apparel, rain suits, helmets, mobile phone holders, and more. In fact, Givi has thousands of products designed according to motorcycle types and models to suit market demands worldwide. In Asia, Givi established its presence in Malaysia when a distributor built a factory in Bukit Beruntung called Givi Asia Sdn Bhd. Givi Asia produces high-quality products specifically for the local market. To cater to local tastes, local designers are required for this task. For the loyal readers of orangperak.com, Givi Asia's lead designer is a young woman from Kuala Kangsar, Perak. The 33-year-old, Rozaida Ahmad Zaki, received her secondary education at Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) PDRM in Kulim, Kedah. She later pursued her studies in Industrial Design at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in Serdang, Selangor. After completing her studies, Rozaida Ahmad Zaki began working at Givi Asia in 2009. At Givi Asia, her role is not only to design products for the local market but also to assist Givi Italy in designing components for international products. According to Rozaida, the first product she helped design was a motorcycle windshield.
Rozaida was later responsible for designing popular Givi products in the country, such as rain suits, helmet components, helmet decals or stickers, and side bags (pouches or fanny bags). Rozaida, who is still single, remains committed to her duties as a lead designer at Givi Asia. Before starting the design process for any product, Rozaida says she must study current market trends to ensure Givi products stay up-to-date with the latest demands.
image credit careta.my
"After conducting detailed research, only then will I begin the design process, followed by prototype manufacturing, and finally the testing phase," explained Rozaida. Every product has its own challenges. For example, Givi rain suits differ from those designed for the European market because the usage habits there and in Malaysia are quite different.
image credit careta.my
In Europe, rain suits only need to be waterproof while riding and have safety features like reflective panels and bright colors. Meanwhile, in Malaysia, users continue to wear rain suits even after the rain has stopped. Therefore, the materials used to produce rain suits in Malaysia must be heat-resistant. Additionally, they must be lightweight and have strong stitching because users in Malaysia are quite rough with their gear.
Rozaida also explained that rain suits must be dried first before they can be folded and stored. Otherwise, the rain suit will not last long. As a motorcycle rider herself, Rozaida also tests the products she designs. For Rozaida, to be a good designer, one must understand the user's needs, and the best way is to use the product oneself. Rozaida's success is an example that women are also capable of succeeding and competing in the automotive industry or similar fields. However, Rozaida is not the only woman active in the industry. Rozaida is also an example that a native of Perak can compete with international designers, as she also assists Givi Italy, as mentioned above.
image credit, storytelling source, and adaptation from careta.my
