# S2E14 How Knowing Nothing Can Make You a More Creative Engineer | Phnam Bagley

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2021-03-19
- Length: 1h 04m
- Episode: 14
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-19-s2e14-how-knowing-nothing-can-make-you-a-more-creative-engineer-phnam-bagley
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/knowing-nothing-can-make-you-more-creative/

## Summary

Phnam Bagley, co-founder of the design consultancy Nonfiction, discusses her approach to industrial design, emphasizing the importance of understanding technical constraints like DFM and the value of 'yes, but' engineers who offer transparent trade-offs. She details the ergonomic challenges of designing the Human headphones, which required 700 prototypes to accommodate diverse head shapes, and advocates for sustainable material choices like seaweed plastic over greenwashed alternatives. Bagley also critiques traditional education systems, arguing for personalized, project-based learning that respects neurodiversity and fosters creativity.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-19-s2e14-how-knowing-nothing-can-make-you-a-more-creative-engineer-phnam-bagley#t=0) Introduction and Background
- [8:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-19-s2e14-how-knowing-nothing-can-make-you-a-more-creative-engineer-phnam-bagley#t=481) The 'Yes, But' Engineer Mindset
- [15:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-19-s2e14-how-knowing-nothing-can-make-you-a-more-creative-engineer-phnam-bagley#t=949) Collaboration and Overlapping Disciplines
- [27:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-19-s2e14-how-knowing-nothing-can-make-you-a-more-creative-engineer-phnam-bagley#t=1622) Designing the Human Headphones
- [41:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-19-s2e14-how-knowing-nothing-can-make-you-a-more-creative-engineer-phnam-bagley#t=2477) Sustainability and Toxic Materials
- [51:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-19-s2e14-how-knowing-nothing-can-make-you-a-more-creative-engineer-phnam-bagley#t=3117) Color Psychology and CMF
- [56:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-19-s2e14-how-knowing-nothing-can-make-you-a-more-creative-engineer-phnam-bagley#t=3378) The Future of Education

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Nonfiction (company)
- IDEO (company)
- Onewheel (product)
- Human (product)
- Material Connection (company)
- PVC (material)
- PT (material)
- ABS (material)
- PC (material)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [IDology #10 - The difficulties of sustainability of industrial design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2023-03-14-idology-10-the-difficulties-of-sustainability-of-industrial-design) (IDology)
- [203: Design for Manufacturing for a New Invention Product](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-11-24-203-design-for-manufacturing-for-a-new-invention-product) (Product Startup)
- [110: Design for Manufacturing Consumer Products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-01-19-110-design-for-manufacturing-consumer-products) (Product Startup)
- [417: Special Old People Shoes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2023-11-03-417-special-old-people-shoes) (Making It)
- [When using AI in product development is not a good idea - IDology #13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2024-01-10-when-using-ai-in-product-development-is-not-a-good-idea-idology-13) (IDology)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-19-s2e14-how-knowing-nothing-can-make-you-a-more-creative-engineer-phnam-bagley. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Being an Engineer.