# Fail culture in product design - IDology #16

- Show: [IDology](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology)
- Published: 2024-02-20
- Length: 35m
- Episode: 16
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2024-02-20-fail-culture-in-product-design-idology-16
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindsailors/episodes/Fail-culture-in-product-design---IDology-16-e2e55hu

## Summary

Voytek Holysz and Mikołaj Wiewióra of Mindsailors discuss 'fail culture' in industrial design, arguing that embracing failure is essential for innovation. They use the metaphor of a toddler learning to walk to illustrate how early, low-stakes failures provide critical learning data. The conversation highlights a specific case where a 3D printed prototype with thin walls was tested via MJF printing, proving manufacturability and elasticity that conservative assumptions had missed. They conclude that designers must advocate for this mindset within their companies, especially in conservative industries like automotive, to avoid stagnation.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2024-02-20-fail-culture-in-product-design-idology-16#t=0) Introduction: The fear of failure in product design
- [1:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2024-02-20-fail-culture-in-product-design-idology-16#t=75) The toddler metaphor: Learning through falling
- [8:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2024-02-20-fail-culture-in-product-design-idology-16#t=526) The professional dancer: Calculated risk and planning failure
- [13:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2024-02-20-fail-culture-in-product-design-idology-16#t=812) Business constraints vs. learning curves
- [21:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2024-02-20-fail-culture-in-product-design-idology-16#t=1277) Case study: 3D printing wall thickness and MJF
- [27:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2024-02-20-fail-culture-in-product-design-idology-16#t=1658) Innovation in conservative industries like automotive
- [33:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2024-02-20-fail-culture-in-product-design-idology-16#t=1996) Implementing fail culture in established companies

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Mikołaj Wiewióra (other)
- Voytek Holysz (other)
- MJF (tool)
- FDM (tool)
- Prusa (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 203: So and So Johnson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-02-22-episode-203-so-and-so-johnson) (Making It)
- [119: Planning for the Unexpected in Product Design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-03-23-119-planning-for-the-unexpected-in-product-design) (Product Startup)
- [149: How to Professionally Prototype your Invention Idea](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-11-09-149-how-to-professionally-prototype-your-invention-idea) (Product Startup)
- [WORST DAY Bringing a New Product to Market](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-11-09-worst-day-bringing-a-new-product-to-market) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [Introducing: It's only a Prototype Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-04-09-introducing-its-only-a-prototype-podcast) (It's Only a Prototype)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2024-02-20-fail-culture-in-product-design-idology-16. 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 IDology.