# 171: Perfectly Good Being Square and Green

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2016-10-12
- Length: 1h 14m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-10-12-171-perfectly-good-being-square-and-green
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/171-perfectly-good-being-square-and-green

## Summary

Saar Drimer, founder of Boldport, discusses his approach to creating aesthetically pleasing, non-rectangular PCBs and the business model behind the Boldport Club. He explains how he uses his open-source tool, PCBMode, which bypasses traditional schematic capture to allow for artistic freedom in layout, and details the operational challenges of shipping monthly electronics kits to hundreds of subscribers via Cratejoy. Drimer also touches on the tension between engineering rigor and creative iteration, noting that his work often involves challenging assembly processes to encourage deeper engagement from hobbyists.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-10-12-171-perfectly-good-being-square-and-green#t=6) Introduction and Background
- [5:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-10-12-171-perfectly-good-being-square-and-green#t=349) The Seahorse Board and Artistic PCBs
- [13:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-10-12-171-perfectly-good-being-square-and-green#t=800) PCBMode and Non-Traditional Design Flow
- [25:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-10-12-171-perfectly-good-being-square-and-green#t=1517) Form vs. Function in Engineering
- [29:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-10-12-171-perfectly-good-being-square-and-green#t=1770) Launching the Boldport Club
- [36:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-10-12-171-perfectly-good-being-square-and-green#t=2170) Kitting, Logistics, and Packaging Challenges
- [50:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-10-12-171-perfectly-good-being-square-and-green#t=3007) Pricing, Margins, and Consulting
- [56:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-10-12-171-perfectly-good-being-square-and-green#t=3373) Creative Process and Future Projects

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Boldport (company)
- PCBMode (tool)
- Cratejoy (other)
- Inkscape (tool)
- Altium (tool)
- KiCad (tool)
- Arduino (product)
- Raspberry Pi (product)
- Seahorse Board (product)
- Cuttlefish Board (product)
- Touchy (product)
- The Lady (product)
- Micah Scott (other)
- Patreon (other)
- Zoom (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview with Saar Drimer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-02-12-an-interview-with-saar-drimer) (The Amp Hour)
- [#440.3 - Interviews with Anool Mahidharia, AJ Keller, Uriel Guy, Ste Kulov, and Craig Bishop at KiCon 2019](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-05-04-440-3-interviews-with-anool-mahidharia-aj-keller-uriel-guy-ste-kulov-and-craig-b) (The Amp Hour)
- [Layout, CAD & Raspberry Pi - Kedogenous Kinetic Knowledge](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-01-15-layout-cad-raspberry-pi-kedogenous-kinetic-knowledge) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Jonathan Hirschman of PCB:NG](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-05-20-an-interview-with-jonathan-hirschman-of-pcb-ng) (The Amp Hour)
- [Once Every Couple Months](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-23-once-every-couple-months) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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