Unlike art, design serves a purpose, a function. Industrial design, in particular, resists the masquerade of artistic indulgence. Though some display-only citrus squeezers come to mind, usability is much harder to hijack as an outlet for someone too afraid to starve as a “real artist.”
While we still lack a clearly agreed definition of art, let’s agree that a chair is not only about aesthetics. It’s ergonomics, manufacturability, and durability — an object that helps you out (to work, to relax, to train) and feels good (to touch, hold, and look at). Whether it’s a custom cinema handheld rig for filming in tight spaces, a steadicam SoC-driven zoom lens controller or a more prosaic compact weights cart for a film set.
Good product design is intuitive, precise, and purposeful, while respecting the constraints of materials, physics, user preferences, and real-world (ab)use.
I don’t design in a vacuum. Every product I create is engineered from first principles: understanding materials’ behavior, optimizing for machining and assembly, cost and efficiency, and considering how another design shaped by natural selection — the human — interacts with it. Whether it’s sheet metal, high-performance polymers, aerospace-grade composites, or precision-machined steel, my designs are built to work — and to last.
FROM CONCEPT TO PRODUCTION
1. Research & Strategy
Every project starts with a problem. Before CAD, before 3D printing, before FEA simulations, I analyze constraints:
What function must this product serve?
Is it a minimalist tool or an emotional piece?
What loads will it bear… until it breaks?
How will users interact with it?
Who, how, and how fast will manufacture it and in which quantity?
How do we optimize for cost without sacrificing performance? Yes, now I’m thinking of IKEA… and its cheap Artemide Tolomeo knock-off.
Understanding the needs of both users and production processes allows me to avoid design pitfalls early.
2. CAD Modeling & Engineering
Once the problem is well-defined, I translate it into more rigorous, parametric 3D space. Using either meso-scale software:
Electrical integration for embedded systems and automation
FEA simulations to test stress, fatigue, and thermal dynamics
Thermodynamics for custom HVAC systems
Fabrication constraints: bend allowances, press-fit tolerances, the need for speed or precision (Brother Speedio or Hermle?), heat-affected zones, and assembly methods (welding, gluing, sewing, bolting…)
Visualization, VR try-outs
Documentation, GD&T, step-by-step procedures
3. Prototyping & Testing
A design that only exists in CAD is just a theory. Prototyping is essential to ensure real-world feasibility. I work with:
CNC machining (3-, 4-, 5-axis mills, lasers, waterjet cutters, punches, and bend presses…)
TIG (DC/AC) and MIG welding
Fastening with appropriately-sized nuts and bolts, with a preference for Torx sockets
Gluing or injection foaming with various compounds required to obtain the needed ergonomics and insulation
High-tech fabric construction (cutting high-tensile Dyneema, sewing, taping)
Or, when the scale warrants it, I choose from the accumulated skills of building larger spaces and systems:
35 years of construction / renovation experience and invention of tools, methods and finished builds, both to live / work in and to film on soundstage: reinforced concrete, timber, thermal / sound insulation, drywall, electrical / lighting, HVAC (including compressor / ventilator units’ tuning), water / sewer, plastering, tiling, painting.
Regardless of the scale, my approach remains as iterative as possible — test, refine, optimize. All in-house.
4. Production & Manufacturing
Designing something beautiful is easy. Designing something that can be efficiently produced at scale is a different challenge. I optimize for:
Material efficiency (reducing waste in sheet metal, composites, and polymers)
Manufacturing simplicity (reducing assembly complexity, fastener count, and machining steps)
Supplier & logistics considerations (27 years of experience with UPS, FedEx / TNT, DPD, DHL, GLS, Kuehne+Nagel, DB Schenker, Geodis, national postal and customs services…)
I’m infinitely curious and unafraid to take on projects in extremely diverse domains:
Cinematic equipment: Custom camera rigs, lens controllers, and motion control systems — our specialty at Idelekka (a company I co-founded)
Furniture & industrial equipment: High-load capacity steel structures for studios and sets.
Technical apparel & gear: Ultralight Dyneema backpacks with tensile strength exceeding steel, waterproof soft goods, and ergonomic load-bearing gear.
Automation hardware: Embedded electronic controllers for light and sound applications.
WHAT DESIGNS ME APART
1. Cross-Disciplinary Thinking
I bridge mechanical, electrical, and software design, ensuring seamless integration of all system components. Unlike most industrial designers, I don’t just “hand off” to engineers — I am the engineer, programmer, and fabricator.
2. Rigorous Attention To Detail
Precision isn’t optional. Whether it’s a 0.01mm tolerance fit in an aluminum housing or the Carnot cycle of a heat pump, I design with Swiss obsession.
3. Real-World Production Experience
I don’t just design — I build. I know what works on the shop floor and in the supply chain.
4. Aesthetics + Ergonomics
Good design isn’t just functional — it’s elegant. Every product I create is refined for usability, interaction, and visual impact.
READY TO BUILD?
If you need a product designer who understands ergonomics, physics, materials, and manufacturing, plus has a business-school background to include pricing on the BOM… Whether it’s for a one-off prototype or full-scale production, I can take your product from idea to reality — without unnecessary complexity. Contact me: let’s build something extraordinary.