# Afterschool Podcast, Episode 1 - Rich Brilliant Willing

- Show: [Core77 Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast)
- Published: 2013-08-19
- Length: 55m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-08-19-afterschool-podcast-episode-1-rich-brilliant-willing
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/corejr/afterschool-episode-1-rich

## Summary

Theo Richardson, Alex Williams, and Charles Brill, co-founders of the Brooklyn design studio Rich Brilliant Willing, discuss their journey from RISD graduates to running a furniture and lighting company. They explain how the 2008 financial crisis pushed them to bypass traditional licensing models and instead design and manufacture their own products, such as the XL Perch and Delta Fabric lamp series, to maintain speed and control. The founders detail their collaborative process, the shift from seasonal trade show launches to a more continuous product release strategy, and the challenges of maintaining their creative partnership while scaling the business.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-08-19-afterschool-podcast-episode-1-rich-brilliant-willing#t=0) Introduction: Rich Brilliant Willing Co-founders
- [4:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-08-19-afterschool-podcast-episode-1-rich-brilliant-willing#t=256) Background: RISD Education and Meeting in New York
- [10:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-08-19-afterschool-podcast-episode-1-rich-brilliant-willing#t=644) Founding the Company: 2008 Crisis and Manufacturing Pivot
- [17:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-08-19-afterschool-podcast-episode-1-rich-brilliant-willing#t=1040) Early Products: The XL Perch and Material Experimentation
- [22:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-08-19-afterschool-podcast-episode-1-rich-brilliant-willing#t=1328) Design Process: Balancing Creative Interest with Market Needs
- [33:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-08-19-afterschool-podcast-episode-1-rich-brilliant-willing#t=2024) Product Strategy: Delta Fabric, Monocle Light, and Trade Shows
- [45:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-08-19-afterschool-podcast-episode-1-rich-brilliant-willing#t=2734) Challenges: Patience, Learning, and Maintaining Partnership
- [51:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-08-19-afterschool-podcast-episode-1-rich-brilliant-willing#t=3103) Current State: Team Growth and Future Vision

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Rich Brilliant Willing (company)
- RISD (other)
- XL Perch (product)
- Delta Fabric lamp series (product)
- Monocle light (product)
- ICFF (other)
- New York Gift Fair (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Live Episode! Walker & Company: Tristan Walker (2019)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-02-28-live-episode-walker-company-tristan-walker-2019) (How I Built This)
- [Live Episode! Milk Bar: Christina Tosi (2019)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-10-25-live-episode-milk-bar-christina-tosi-2019) (How I Built This)
- [Live Episode! Clubhouse: Paul Davison and Rohan Seth](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-05-06-live-episode-clubhouse-paul-davison-and-rohan-seth) (How I Built This)
- [EO Products: Susan Griffin-Black & Brad Black](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-07-15-eo-products-susan-griffin-black-brad-black) (How I Built This)
- [Melissa & Doug: Melissa And Doug Bernstein (2016)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-02-05-melissa-doug-melissa-and-doug-bernstein-2016) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-08-19-afterschool-podcast-episode-1-rich-brilliant-willing. 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 Core77 Podcast.