Hardware Podcasts

Industrial Design, AI & the Business of Design with Jordan Nollman | S3E02

Designing in the Wild · 7 Oct 2026 · 1h 01m · Episode 3

What this episode covers

Jordan Nollman, founder and CEO of Sprout, a Boston-based multidisciplinary design consultancy, discusses the evolution of industrial design from a solo practice to a 60-person studio offering strategy, branding, UX, and engineering. He details the business realities of running a consultancy, including the critical importance of retainers, the pitfalls of all-equity deals, and the strategic use of AI tools like VizCom to accelerate storyboarding and visualization without replacing core design thinking. Nollman emphasizes that while AI speeds up execution, the value lies in solving real-world problems, citing projects like a microplastics sensor and a solar-powered milk trolley that balance aesthetics, function, and sustainability.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Sprout, New Balance, Hasbro, Cranium, HP, Pfizer, LG, Landor, Continuum Made
Products
Xbox
Tools
Keyshot, VizCom
Also
RIT, IDSA, WorkPress Pro

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