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

- Show: [Core77 Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast)
- Published: 2014-01-06
- Length: 1h 14m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2014-01-06-afterschool-podcast-episode-14-fiftythree-12-17
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/corejr/afterschool-podcast-episode

## Summary

FiftyThree co-founders John Harris and John Ikeda, along with industrial designer 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 of the stylus, including its carpenter pencil form factor, materials, and the engineering challenges of fitting electronics into a wood and aluminum body. The conversation covers the 'kiss to pair' interaction, the tight coupling of hardware and software, and the logistical pains of manufacturing and fulfillment as a small team.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2014-01-06-afterschool-podcast-episode-14-fiftythree-12-17#t=0) Introduction and Guest Backgrounds
- [2:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2014-01-06-afterschool-podcast-episode-14-fiftythree-12-17#t=130) From Microsoft Courier to Founding FiftyThree
- [18:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2014-01-06-afterschool-podcast-episode-14-fiftythree-12-17#t=1090) Building Hardware Infrastructure from Scratch
- [25:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2014-01-06-afterschool-podcast-episode-14-fiftythree-12-17#t=1522) Designing the Pencil: Form, Materials, and Engineering
- [28:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2014-01-06-afterschool-podcast-episode-14-fiftythree-12-17#t=1727) Interaction Design: Kiss to Pair and Blending
- [47:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2014-01-06-afterschool-podcast-episode-14-fiftythree-12-17#t=2856) Manufacturing Challenges and Partner Relationships
- [1:09:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2014-01-06-afterschool-podcast-episode-14-fiftythree-12-17#t=4180) Packaging Design and Fulfillment Logistics

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Packaging design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/packaging-design)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- FiftyThree (company)
- Paper (product)
- Pencil (product)
- Courier (product)
- Microsoft (company)
- Xbox (product)
- iPad (product)
- Sonos (company)
- Core77 (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 205: Thinky Pad and Wippy Pen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-03-08-episode-205-thinky-pad-and-wippy-pen) (Making It)
- [136: Mark Four](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2026-10-08-136-mark-four) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [81: Mark Three](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-06-29-81-mark-three) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [#016: From Startup to Global Brand: Scaling Engineering at reMarkable](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-09-17-016-from-startup-to-global-brand-scaling-engineering-at-remarkable) (Coredump Sessions)
- [59: I’ve Always Wanted to Do a Bleep](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2020-05-20-59-ive-always-wanted-to-do-a-bleep) (Thoroughly Considered)

## 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/2014-01-06-afterschool-podcast-episode-14-fiftythree-12-17. 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.