1.
Becoming a
Designer Founder
O’Reilly Design Conference
March 21, 2017

2.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
Hi!
I’m a designer-founder.

3.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper

4.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper

5.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper

6.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper

7.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copperflickr: deliciousblur,

8.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
Organic growth
• Self-funded
• Balance production and marketing
• Learn about our customers
• Smaller mistakes

9.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
Why copper cookware?

10.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper

11.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper

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@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
My career journey.

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@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
Short-order cook

14.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copperYouTube | 1101com
Production potter

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@thinknow @brooklyn_copperYouTube | 1101com
Interaction Designer

16.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copperholster.co.uk
Design student

17.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
Product Designer

18.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
Hackathon team
member

19.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
Startup coach

20.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
My influence as a designer-
founder.

21.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper*Before Designer Founder (BDF)
BCC 1.0*
2009 - 2012

22.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper*Designer-as-Consultant
BCC 1.5*
2013 - 2014

23.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper*After Designer Founder
BCC 2.0*
2015-present

24.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
What I expected vs. How it is
Planning - Reacting
Control - Surrender
Designing solution - Building company

25.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
How we think and work.

26.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
What’s the desired outcome?
WHO is this for
WHAT do we want to happen
HOW will we know it works?

27.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
Just enough
structure and technology

28.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
Microsegments
instead of demographics

29.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
Small bets
instead of big bang releases

30.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
Evidence
instead of Opinion

31.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
Iteration
instead of Planning

32.
SUBSTANTIAL …but not weighty
INTENTIONAL …but not calculated
HANDMADE …but not artisanal
WHOLESOME …but not hygienic
ESSENTIAL …but not primitive

33.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
Just enough structure and technology
Microsegments instead of demographics
Small bets instead of big bang releases
Evidence instead of Opinion
Iteration instead of Planning

34.
@thinknow @brooklyn_copper
“To plant a garden is to
believe in tomorrow.”
― Audrey Hepburn
Flickr: