# 168: The Future of Hardware Product Design Thinking

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2023-03-23
- Length: 23m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-03-23-168-the-future-of-hardware-product-design-thinking
- Listen: https://productstartup.com/

## Summary

Paul Rowan, Co-Founder of Umbra, explains how startups can compete with large corporations by prioritizing humanistic values and long-term thinking over short-term gains. He argues that while good design is now the baseline for market entry, brands must differentiate themselves through sustainability, transparency, and the founder's personal story. Rowan emphasizes that AI is merely a tool and cannot replace human spirit, urging designers to focus on empathy and purpose to build lasting customer relationships.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-03-23-168-the-future-of-hardware-product-design-thinking#t=0) Introduction: Paul Rowan and Umbra's History
- [3:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-03-23-168-the-future-of-hardware-product-design-thinking#t=186) Umbra's Evolution from One Product to Global Brand
- [8:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-03-23-168-the-future-of-hardware-product-design-thinking#t=514) AI as a Tool vs. Human Intelligence in Design
- [11:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-03-23-168-the-future-of-hardware-product-design-thinking#t=660) The Baseline of Good Design and Humanistic Values
- [13:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-03-23-168-the-future-of-hardware-product-design-thinking#t=825) Differentiation Through Personality and Storytelling
- [17:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-03-23-168-the-future-of-hardware-product-design-thinking#t=1032) Long-Term Thinking vs. Short-Term Gains

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Umbra (company)
- Mako Design + Invent (company)
- George Brown College (company)
- Midjourney (tool)
- ChatGPT (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Hatch Duo: Industrial Design, Navigating AI, Branding, Hardware Innovation | Hard Tech Podcast #16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-03-20-hatch-duo-industrial-design-navigating-ai-branding-hardware-innovation-hard-tech) (Hard Tech Podcast)
- [Industrial Design, AI & the Business of Design with Jordan Nollman | S3E02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/designing-in-the-wild/2026-10-07-industrial-design-ai-the-business-of-design-with-jordan-nollman-s3e02) (Designing in the Wild)
- [76: Tom’s Future Corner](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-01-12-76-toms-future-corner) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Core Talk, Episode 3: Martin Postler & Ian Ferguson, Founders of Design Firm PostlerFerguson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2017-02-23-core-talk-episode-3-martin-postler-ian-ferguson-founders-of-design-firm-postlerf) (Core77 Podcast)
- [33: Year-End Q&A](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-12-21-33-year-end-q-a) (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/product-startup/2023-03-23-168-the-future-of-hardware-product-design-thinking. 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 Product Startup.