# 82: Design is Compromise

- Show: [Thoroughly Considered](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered)
- Published: 2022-07-18
- Length: 59m
- Episode: 82
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-07-18-82-design-is-compromise
- Listen: http://relay.fm/tc/82

## Summary

Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the successful Kickstarter campaign for the Mark 3 mechanical pencil, noting it fills their product line and leverages the brand's credibility to sell a premium writing instrument. They also introduce a new wooden pen tray, exploring the design compromises involved in expanding into desk accessories without committing to a rigid product system. Myke Hurley shares his own manufacturing struggles with a paper journal, highlighting the challenges of tolerances and the necessity of designing for manufacturing constraints rather than fighting them.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-07-18-82-design-is-compromise#t=8) Introduction: Studio Neat and Mark 3 Kickstarter
- [5:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-07-18-82-design-is-compromise#t=329) Brand Strategy: Premiumizing Commodity Items
- [16:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-07-18-82-design-is-compromise#t=988) New Product: The Wooden Pen Tray
- [24:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-07-18-82-design-is-compromise#t=1476) Design Compromise: Manufacturing Constraints
- [33:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-07-18-82-design-is-compromise#t=2031) Manufacturing Tolerances and Quality Control
- [39:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-07-18-82-design-is-compromise#t=2370) Dan's Tech Corner: iPhone 14 Rumors

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Studio Neat (company)
- Mark 3 (product)
- Mark 1 (product)
- Glyph (product)
- Penzio (product)
- Schmidt (other)
- iPhone 14 (product)
- Google Pixel (product)
- Nothing Phone (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 205: Thinky Pad and Wippy Pen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-03-08-episode-205-thinky-pad-and-wippy-pen) (Making It)
- [Product Design with Simone Giertz](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-06-07-product-design-with-simone-giertz) (The Amp Hour)
- [110: Design for Manufacturing Consumer Products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-01-19-110-design-for-manufacturing-consumer-products) (Product Startup)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 5 - StudioNeat (9/16)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-04-afterschool-podcast-episode-5-studioneat-9-16) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 14 - Pencil by FiftyThree (12/17)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-12-17-afterschool-podcast-episode-14-pencil-by-fiftythree-12-17) (Core77 Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-07-18-82-design-is-compromise. 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 Thoroughly Considered.