# 84: Empathy Machine

- Show: [Thoroughly Considered](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered)
- Published: 2022-08-11
- Length: 58m
- Episode: 84
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-08-11-84-empathy-machine
- Listen: http://relay.fm/tc/84

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-08-11-84-empathy-machine#t=8) Introduction and The Last Detail Podcast
- [3:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-08-11-84-empathy-machine#t=198) Mark Two Limited Edition 005 Release Strategy
- [6:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-08-11-84-empathy-machine#t=398) Fulfillment Logistics and Inventory Challenges
- [13:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-08-11-84-empathy-machine#t=809) The Impact of Scale on Manufacturing and Sourcing
- [21:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-08-11-84-empathy-machine#t=1301) Hiring Staff and Shifting Business Structure
- [42:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-08-11-84-empathy-machine#t=2543) Empathy Machines and Thoughtful Design
- [52:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-08-11-84-empathy-machine#t=3133) Review of After Steve and Jony Ive

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Logistics & fulfilment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/logistics-and-fulfillment)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Studio Neat (company)
- Mark Two Limited Edition 005 (product)
- The Last Detail (product)
- Sonos (company)
- Indeed (company)
- IKEA (company)
- After Steve (other)
- Jony Ive (other)
- Steve Jobs (other)
- iMac G3 (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [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)
- [Episode 269: Everything is an opportunity, to make a keychain.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-07-24-episode-269-everything-is-an-opportunity-to-make-a-keychain) (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)
- [469: It’s My Fault, But Also Your Fault](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-01-31-469-its-my-fault-but-also-your-fault) (Making It)

## 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/2022-08-11-84-empathy-machine. 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.