Hardware Podcasts

Afterschool Podcast, Episode 14 - Pencil by FiftyThree (12/17)

Core77 Podcast · 17 Dec 2013 · 1h 14m

What this episode covers

FiftyThree co-founder John Harris and industrial designers John Ikeda and Audrey Louchart discuss the creation of Pencil, the company's first hardware product designed to complement their Paper app. They detail the transition from Microsoft's Courier project to building a startup, focusing on the industrial design choices like the carpenter pencil form factor and the integration of wood and aluminum materials. The team explains the 'Kiss to Pair' connection mechanism, the engineering challenges of fitting electronics into a tight form, and the logistical hurdles of manufacturing and direct-to-consumer fulfillment.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
FiftyThree, Microsoft, Sonos, Alienware
Products
Paper, Pencil, Courier, Xbox, iPad

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