84: Empathy Machine

Thoroughly Considered · 11 Aug 2022 · 58m · Episode 84

What this episode covers

Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the operational challenges and strategic shifts involved in releasing the Mark Two Limited Edition 005 pen, including moving to timed releases and handling fulfillment in-house. They detail the process of hiring part-time staff for assembly and customer service to escape the 'work procrastination' trap of doing everything themselves. The hosts also explore the concept of 'empathy machines' in industrial design, citing examples like baby monitor handles and IKEA coffee cups, and briefly review the book After Steve.

Mentioned

Companies
Studio Neat, Sonos, Indeed, IKEA
Products
Mark Two Limited Edition 005, The Last Detail, iMac G3
Also
After Steve, Jony Ive, Steve Jobs

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Core77 Podcast · 1h 14m

    Afterschool Podcast, Episode 14 - Pencil by FiftyThree (12/17)

    FiftyThree co-founder John Harris and industrial designers John Ikeda and Audrey Louchart discuss the creation of Pencil, the company's first hardware product designed to complement their Paper app. They detail the transition from Microsoft's Courier project to building a startup, focusing on the industrial design choices like the carpenter pencil form factor and the integration of wood and aluminum materials. The team explains the 'Kiss to Pair' connection mechanism, the engineering challenges of fitting electronics into a tight form, and the logistical hurdles of manufacturing and direct-to-consumer fulfillment.

  • Core77 Podcast · 1h 00m

    Afterschool Podcast, Episode 5 - StudioNeat (9/16)

    Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt, co-founders of Studio Neat, discuss their journey from the first Kickstarter project, Glif, to their latest hardware release, the Neat Ice Kit. They explain their minimalist Kickstarter strategy, which avoids complex pledge tiers and stretch goals to ensure focus on delivery, and share lessons learned from manufacturing delays with the Cosmonaut stylus. The conversation also covers their design philosophy, their views on the iPhone 5C and iOS 7, and their approach to remote collaboration.

  • Making It · 1h 07m

    Episode 269: Everything is an opportunity, to make a keychain.

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the challenges of maintaining creative momentum and managing production pipelines during the pandemic. David Picciuto details his process for building a prototype chair using dowels and plywood, while Bob Clagett shares his struggles with learning aluminum welding and his shop's new logistics. Jimmy Diresta explains how he turned a cancelled client project into an opportunity to make wooden keychains and discusses the importance of treating projects as experiments rather than finished products.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 05m

    Product Design with Simone Giertz

    Simone Giertz, an inventor and product designer, discusses her transition from YouTube content creation to launching the Yetge store, where she sells products like the Everyday Calendar, Scissor Lamp, and screwdriver rings. She details the challenges of manufacturing, including dealing with factory quality issues, supply chain delays, and the high costs of small-batch production. Giertz explains her strategy of starting with small pre-production runs to mitigate risk and her decision to maintain full ownership of her brand to preserve creative control and avoid the pitfalls of scaling too aggressively.

  • Making It · 1h 09m

    469: It’s My Fault, But Also Your Fault

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their recent projects, including Diresta’s accidental launch of a 3D-printed webcam mount, Clagett’s zinc casting of ‘steal apples’ and stained glass work, and Picciuto’s restoration of a Juno 106 synthesizer. The hosts also critique modern smart TVs, specifically LG models, for intrusive pop-ups and input switching, contrasting them with ‘dumb’ monitors. They explore the rapid iteration of small-batch manufacturing, from sourcing hardware to packaging, and share recommendations for YouTube channels like Veritasium and Dave’s Auto Center.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Thoroughly Considered. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.