Hardware Podcasts

76: Tom’s Future Corner

Thoroughly Considered · 12 Jan 2022 · 54m · Episode 76

What this episode covers

Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the operational realities of scaling a physical product business, including the high upfront costs of manufacturing custom metal parts for the Mark Two pen and the strategic use of Facebook and Instagram ads to reach niche audiences. They analyze the future of hardware, arguing that small companies must compete through brand storytelling rather than novelty, as patents are often unenforceable and commoditization is inevitable. The episode also features a critique of Sir Jony Ive’s new Terra Carta seal design and a re-evaluation of skeuomorphism as a functional onboarding tool.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Studio Neat, Facebook, Instagram, Cotton Bureau, Amazon, Apple
Products
Mark Two, Glyph, Always Pan, Mark One
Also
Jony Ive, Terra Carta

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