Hardware Podcasts

#005: Industrial Designer Turned Concept Artist, Todd Hebenstreit - Facebook Oculus Designer, VR aficionado, UI/UX Savant, Analog to Digital, Game Design, Era Specific Influence, and Process

Designing in the Wild · 31 Jan 2022 · 1h 37m · Episode 5

What this episode covers

Todd Hebenstreit, a former industrial designer at Dell and concept artist for Oculus and Naughty Dog, discusses his transition from physical product design to digital UI and concept art. He details his work designing the Oculus Store interface and VR environments, emphasizing the use of 3D underlays to accelerate the concepting process. Hebenstreit also shares insights on navigating high-pressure engineering cultures at Facebook and Amazon, the importance of rigorous hiring standards, and his evolving digital workflow using Photoshop and Wacom tablets.

Most relevant to

large enterprises

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Dell, Oculus, Facebook, Naughty Dog, Amazon, Effective UI, Netflix
Products
Slack, Star Wars, Dead Space, Metro 2066
Tools
Photoshop, Wacom, SolidWorks
Also
ArtStation

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Making It · 1h 02m

    449: Like Walking Through A Room In The Dark

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the unexpected nature of their work and lives, from a go-kart track accident to the hidden labor in creative projects. Jimmy details his design process for a Double H grill using Illustrator and CNC plasma cutting, while David explores the workflow of a 360 camera and the mental weight of uncompleted tasks. The group reflects on the psychology of presenting finished work, debating the tendency to over-explain flaws versus letting the object speak for itself.

    Industrial & consumer product designPCB design & layout
    6 chapters

  • TRADEOFFS · 1h 04m

    Design and Engineering Shouldn't Be Separate Islands | Pensar, Tactile, Mathscaper, Vector7 | Rob Leonard

    Rob Leonard, founder of Vector7 and former leader at Pensar and Tactile, discusses the critical trade-off of integrating industrial design with engineering, arguing they should not be separate islands. He details his journey from IT to hardware, highlighting how his work at Orb Optronics and NextLighting led to leadership roles at Pensar and Tactile, where he championed holistic product development. Leonard also shares insights on his current consultancy, Vector7, and his art practice, Mathscaper, which uses CNC machining to create mathematical sculptures.

    Industrial & consumer product designStarting a product company
    9 chapters

  • Shop Talk Live · 1h 05m

    STL273: Shaper Origin—Then and Now

    Joe Hebenstreit, CEO of Shaper, and Adi Rao, Product Lead at Shaper, discuss the evolution of Shaper Origin from its early prototyping days to its current ecosystem of hardware and software. They detail the development of Shaper Studio, a simplified digital design tool for craftspeople, and Plate, a precision jig that blends analog woodworking techniques with digital tracking. The conversation highlights Shaper's philosophy of augmenting human skill rather than replacing it, targeting both experienced woodworkers and digital natives.

    Industrial & consumer product designPrototyping & iteration
    8 chapters

  • Core77 Podcast · 1h 22m

    Afterschool Podcast, Episode 8 - Neven Mrgan (10/7)

    Neven Mrgan, a designer at Panic, discusses the design philosophy behind iOS 7, arguing that Apple's shift to flat design was an overcorrection from skeuomorphism that ignored the functional needs of software interfaces. He contrasts industrial design principles, where thin elements can fade into the background, with software requirements where clarity and hierarchy are paramount for usability. Mrgan also details the development of his text-based game Blackbar, explaining how he used minimalist constraints to create a dystopian narrative, and shares insights on the iterative challenges of game design at his small company.

    Industrial & consumer product designPCB design & layout
    9 chapters

  • Moore's Lobby · 59m

    Stepping Outside the Metaverse to Discuss Next-Gen Hardware Development

    Agustya Mehta, Director of System Platforms for Reality Labs Hardware at Meta, discusses the engineering challenges of next-generation AR/VR devices, drawing on his experience at Microsoft, Apple, and the startup Nado. He details the transition from bulky prototypes to untethered headsets, highlighting advances in silicon, micro-displays, and inside-out tracking. Mehta emphasizes the importance of balancing strict engineering constraints with industrial design to create wearable devices that are both functional and socially acceptable, particularly for accessibility applications.

    PCB design & layoutIndustrial & consumer product design
    10 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Designing in the Wild. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.