Industrial & consumer product design
Product design & engineering
1,476 episodes across 50 shows cover industrial & consumer product design. The shows that cover it most are Shop Talk Live, Making It and Hackaday Podcast. The most recent, from 14 Oct 2026, is “Designing for Joy: Finding Meaning in Industrial Design with Daniela Garcia | S3E04” from Designing in the Wild.
How a physical product looks, feels and is used: form, ergonomics, CMF (colour, material, finish), user experience of the object. Any product category.
1476 episodes from 50 shows, most relevant and most recent first.
1476 episodes
STL364: Good Design Goes Unnoticed
Konrad Sauer, founder of Sauer & Steiner Toolworks, discusses his transition from graphic design to high-end hand plane making, emphasizing that good design is unnoticed and feels right. He details the iterative design process for his…
Designing for Joy: Finding Meaning in Industrial Design with Daniela Garcia | S3E04
Industrial designer Daniela Garcia, who revitalized the Boston IDSA chapter and works with companies like G appliances and Medea, explains her design philosophy centered on 'joy' and reducing user stress. She details her workflow, which…
S7E16 Chad Walters | Constraints, Iteration, & Industrial Design in Product Development
Chad Walters, an industrial design leader with experience at companies like APR, LLC and Viking Range, LLC, discusses the role of industrial designers in product development, emphasizing user research, storytelling, and collaboration with…
#217 - Creative Briefs 101 with Janice Greenwald and Kat Karpati
Janice Greenwald, a fractional CMO for emerging food and beverage brands, and Kat Karpati, co-founder of Flock Creative, explain how to create effective packaging creative briefs that align business strategy with design. They discuss…
Founder Fundraising Journey: Craig Dubitsky, Happy Products
Craig Dubitsky, Co-Founder and CEO of Happy Products, discusses his journey building brands like eos, hello, and Method, and his current venture, Happy, which partners with NAMI. He explains that Happy is in the 'Happy business' with…
537: Sneeze Session
Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the creative challenges of making content, including attribution, project pile-up, and the tension between personal interest and YouTube performance. Bob shares his experience with a…
How to Do Better Design Research with Jill Bohaboy | S3E02
Jill Bohaboy, founder of Trek Solutions, joins Rob to discuss the craft of design research, emphasizing that meaningful insights come from observation and qualitative methods rather than just asking people what they want. They explore…
#265: Marion Nestle on Food Politics and the Cereal Aisle
Marion Nestle, Professor Emerita at NYU and author of 'Sugar Coated: Unboxing the Hidden Forces Shaping America's Favorite Breakfast Food,' discusses the history of cereal marketing with host Daniel Scharff. She explains how Kellogg's…
123: The Last Detail with John Siracusa
John Siracusa, proprietor of Hypercritical.co and co-host of the Accidental Tech Podcast, discusses the 2019 Mac Pro, which he calls the 'cheese grater.' He details its industrial design, including the iconic perforated aluminum front…
Bringing Lean Manufacturing to Life Through Visual Workspaces w/ Steve Riley
Steve Riley, COO of Bespoke Tool Traces, explains why 70% of lean initiatives fail due to a lack of sustaining steps and production pressure, advocating for visual workspaces as a solution. He details how Bespoke uses digital workflows to…
122: The Last Detail with Chase Reeves
Gear reviewer Chase Reeves discusses his Rhizal Brio slip-on barefoot shoes, explaining the biomechanical benefits of zero-drop, wide-toe-box designs and the 'grounding' copper plug feature. Hosts Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio…
Smart Water Heaters Could Replace New Power Plants | Luke Winston-Almanzar
Luke Winston-Almanzar, CEO and Co-founder of Reservoir, explains how his company’s intelligent heat pump water heater uses predictive software and industrial controls to optimize energy use and user comfort. He details the hardware…
We're BACK! Industrial Design, Biomimicry & More: Designing in the Wild Season 3 (Trailer) | S3E01
Rob Irwin, host of Designing in the Wild, announces the return of the podcast for Season 3 with a new video format. He highlights his 23-year background as an industrial designer, citing past work on Amazon's smart shopping carts, net-zero…
Turning Customers Into Investors: A Popcorn Brand's Crowdfunding Playbook
Tal Moore, founder and CEO of Popsmith, details his journey from selling candy as a child to launching a premium stovetop popcorn brand with his business partner Dave Stickland. He explains how $2.2 million in personal capital and a $1.6…
#222 - Buyer Spotlight: Pastas, Pasta Sauces, Oils, and Vinegars, with Brooke Gil of Whole Foods Market
Brooke Gil, Category Merchant for Pastas, Pasta Sauces, Oils, and Vinegars at Whole Foods Market, discusses current trends and buyer expectations. She highlights the rise of functional vinegars, the 'tallow takeover' driven by beauty…
Sensing at the Control Level: Leveraging Data for Both Safety and Analytics
Kate Sokolnicki, Global Business Director for Rockwell Automation's Sensing & Safety business unit, explains the shift from simple on/off sensors to smart devices providing dual-channel process and health data. She details how IO-Link and…
Ep. 32 - How to Write Documentation
Steven Haus and Lucian Che Park of Opulo discuss the challenges and best practices of writing documentation for open hardware products. They advocate for a dynamic, living documentation approach using MkDocs and Markdown, emphasizing that…
Investor Spotlight: Hayden Williams, BrandProject
Hayden Williams, Partner at BrandProject, discusses the firm's pre-launch investing strategy and the recent P&G acquisition of portfolio company Wonderbelly. He details how founders Noah and Lucas built a clean-label antacid brand from the…
116: The Last Detail with Jason Shellen
Jason Shellen, the founding product manager of Google Reader, discusses his long-term loyalty to the Patagonia Refugio 28L backpack, praising its thoughtful design, durability, and repairable warranty. He contrasts this with other bags…
#430: MedTech Language: Patient, Customer, or Partner?
Dr. Allison Komiyama, CEO and Founder of Blue Stocking Health, discusses the semantic and cultural shifts in MedTech language, specifically the transition from 'patient' to 'person' or 'care partner.' She argues that the etymology of…
Where it comes up20:33
112: The Last Detail with Matthew Panzarino
Matthew Panzarino, former TechCrunch editor and founder of TheObessor.com, discusses the Acronym J1-A, a high-end techwear jacket designed by Errolson Hugh and Michaela Sackenbacher of Acronym Studio. He details the jacket's industrial…
#425: The "Front End" of Medical Device Innovation: From Idea to Market
Stuart Grant, founder of Archetype MedTech and former Johnson & Johnson executive, explains the 'front end of innovation' in medical device development, defining it as the critical phase between applied science and new product development…
Episode 141: Our relationship with robot swarms - Razanne Abu-Aisheh
Razanne Abu-Aisheh, a Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol, discusses her research on public perception of robot swarms, specifically how collective motion styles (structured vs. organic) impact trust. She explains that…
Primary: Christina Carbonell and Galyn Bernard
Christina Carbonell and Galyn Bernard, co-founders of the children's clothing brand Primary, explain how they built a $50 million profitable company by rejecting industry norms like logos, gendered sections, and seasonal trends. They…
Sun Bum: Tom Rinks. The Secrets of a Master Brand Builder (2023)
Tom Rinks, founder of Sun Bum, explains how he built a $400 million sunscreen brand by combining surf culture, Scandinavian design, and Japanese streetwear into a cohesive identity. He details the creation of the iconic yellow gorilla…
Episode 135: Robot anatomy and design - Chapa Sirithunge
Chapa Sirithunge, a Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellow at the University of Cambridge, discusses her research into bio-inspired robotics, specifically designing parametric robotic hands based on primate anatomy and the concept of…
#347: Human-Centered Design in Medical Devices
Morven Shearlaw, co-founder of the Glasgow-based design agency Fearsome, discusses the critical role of human-centered design in medical device development. She emphasizes defining the full ecosystem of users—including clinicians…
How AI Is Transforming Product Design
Industrial designer and AI consultant Rupert Warries joins hosts Tom Constable and Phil Staunton to discuss how generative AI is transforming product design workflows. Warries explains how tools like Vizcom and ComfyUI allow designers to…
Reaching New Heights: The Giraffe Robot's impact on warehouse efficiency
Charlie Kemp, CTO and co-founder of Hello Robot, and Jan Zizka, CEO and co-founder of Brightpick, discuss the evolution of warehouse robotics. Kemp details Hello Robot's Stretch 3, a mobile manipulator designed for accessibility and…
234 - Rich Peete and Wyatt Russell discuss Lake Hour and hollywood friendships with Adam and Kirk
Wyatt Russell and Rich Peete, co-founders of Lake Hour, discuss the creation of their canned cocktail brand, emphasizing a design philosophy that balances nostalgic Americana with modern appeal. They detail the iterative packaging process…
How manufacturing and design co-exist - IDology #20
Anita Rogoża and Mikołaj Wiewióra from the industrial design studio Mindsailors discuss the historical evolution of the relationship between design and manufacturing with host Voytek Holysz. They trace the shift from individual…
534: I Think We'll Add a Head
Aaed Musa, co-founder of the robotics startup Mecha and a popular YouTube creator, discusses his journey from 3D-printing servo robots in his parents' garage to designing advanced quadrupedal robots. He details the mechanical evolution…
Industrial machinery design pain points - IDology #18
Voytek Holysz, COO of Mindsailors, and Thomas Weber, Business Development Manager at Mindsailors, discuss the attitudes industrial machinery manufacturers have toward industrial design. They categorize clients into four groups: those who…
194: The Importance of Sketch Design for New Hardware Products
Magnus Sköld, Senior Industrial Designer at MAKO Design + Invent, explains the critical role of sketch design in hardware product development, tracing his career from private jet interiors to working with brands like Dell. He details three…
Fail culture in product design - IDology #16
Voytek Holysz and Mikołaj Wiewióra of Mindsailors discuss 'fail culture' in industrial design, arguing that embracing failure is essential for innovation. They use the metaphor of a toddler learning to walk to illustrate how early…
190: Ethnocentric Design for Your Invention
Thomas Ask, a Professor of Industrial Design at Penn College, explains ethnocentric design, which prioritizes understanding the specific cultural and demographic needs of end-users over the inventor's ego. He outlines a process involving…
Hatch Duo: Industrial Design, Navigating AI, Branding, Hardware Innovation | Hard Tech Podcast #16
Michael Yim and Jonathan Tai, co-founders of Hatch Duo, an AI-enhanced industrial design and engineering studio, discuss their journey from bootstrapping to serving early-stage hardware startups. They detail their 'design capital' model…
186: Product Renderings for a New Invention
David Brown, a design engineer at Mako Design + Invent, explains the strategic value of photorealistic product renderings for hardware startups, from fundraising to sales. He details the process of creating high-fidelity images and videos…
#171 - Buyer Spotlight: Taylor Cathala, Senior Spirits Category Merchant, Whole Foods Market
Taylor Cathala, Senior Spirits Category Merchant at Whole Foods Market, explains how he selects spirits, mocktails, and RTD cocktails for the retailer, balancing customer demand with strict quality standards and local sourcing priorities…
101: The Last Detail with Stephen Hackett
Stephen Hackett, founder of 512pixels.net and co-founder of Relay FM, discusses the design and legacy of the iMac G4 with hosts Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt. They analyze how the product's unique 'sunflower' form factor was a compromise…
A Dynamic Panel Discussion with the Digital Foam Architects Network
Host Fabian Alefeld moderates a panel with Nick Florek of General Lattice, Dr. Dave Krzeminski of EOS, Pierre Gonnetan of Arkema, and Mike Schorr of DyeMansion to discuss the Digital Foam Architects Network. The group explains how inverse…
#203 - Packaging Your Brand 101: Jamie Valenti-Jordan and Andy Kurtts
Jamie Valenti-Jordan, CEO of Catapult Commercialization Services, and Andy Kurtts, founder of Buttermilk Creative, discuss the technical and design aspects of CPG packaging. Valenti-Jordan explains how to protect products from oxygen…
How Computer Vision Ensures Grid Reliability | Noteworthy AI's Chris Ricciuti | Internet of Things Podcast
Chris Ricciuti, Founder and CEO of Noteworthy AI, explains how the company uses vehicle-mounted smart cameras and edge AI to help electric utilities inspect the grid at scale. He details the transition from manual binocular inspections to…
99: The Last Detail with Jason Fried
Jason Fried, co-founder and CEO of 37 Signals (makers of Basecamp and Hey), discusses his collection of Lange 1 watches, focusing on the brand's pioneering asymmetrical design and rigorous engineering. He details specific aesthetic…
Making Industrial IoT Work: Lessons from 30 Years in Automation with Grace Technologies
Drew Allen, CEO of Grace Technologies, discusses the company's 30-year evolution from automation components to industrial IoT solutions, including Graceport interface connectors, electrical safety devices, and wireless vibration…
STL360: Veneer Glue—Stirred, Not Shaken
Steve Der-Garabedian, author of 'Veneering Essentials', joins hosts Vic and Ben to demystify veneering, discussing why it eliminates wood movement and extends resources like White Ash. The conversation covers practical techniques…
Episode 112: Getting creative with robotics - Vali Lalioti
Vali Lalioti, a professor of creative extended reality and robotics at the University of the Arts London, discusses the integration of art and engineering in robotics. She explains how her curriculum combines technical skills with critical…
175 - Hearing Aid Innovations and Why Hearing Loss Is More Dangerous Than You Think with Bill Facteau
Bill Facteau, President and CEO of Earlens Corporation, explains how their light-based, direct-drive hearing device overcomes the frequency limitations of traditional air conduction hearing aids by vibrating the eardrum directly. He…
STL355: Pencil Geeks Assemble!
Grant Christensen, president of Black Wing pencils, joins the Shop Talk Live hosts to discuss the history, manufacturing, and resurgence of the Black Wing 602 pencil. The conversation covers the brand's origins with the Barrelzheimer…
Scott Summit | Industrial Design, 3D Printing, & Life-Changing Products
Scott Summit, a senior industrial designer and former design director at 3D Systems, discusses his career designing life-changing products, including 3D-printed orthotics and prosthetics. He details the technical challenges of using CAD…