In 2018 I became captivated by the possibilities of photochemical machining (PCM) for cost-effective metal production. I embarked on creating a project to leverage this innovative manufacturing process for a crowdfunding campaign. The unique manufacturing process eliminated high tooling costs allowing for affordable prototypes, low minimum order quantities, and rapid production timing, all major benefits to a crowdfunding campaign.

With a focus on PCM manufacturing, I designed a small bookmark stencil to test developing a product using the manufacturing process. Against an initial $250 development budget, my 30-day crowdfunding campaign raised over $20,000 in 2018. Due to the success of the first campaign, I launched 2 new designs in 2018 and 2019 raising a combined $60,000 during crowdfunding campaigns. Over 25,000 Sketchmarks were sold through online eCommerce channels between 2018-2021.

Q: Record Wall Mounts was my first self-launched and developed invention in 2015. As an avid vinyl record collector, I searched for a way to easily display my collection as wall art but realized most solutions on the market were either too expensive, complicated to install, or took away from the album artwork too much.

I designed Q: Record Wall Mounts to be a cost-effective and minimal way for anybody to showcase their vinyl records. By focusing on a lightweight, modular design I was able to eliminate 80% of the material, cost, and size of traditional frames that also utilized a no-damage installation method for apartment and dorm dwellers.

I launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 with a $400 budget using 3D printed prototypes and photorealistic renderings, raising over $10,000 during a 30-day campaign. I used the Kickstarter funds to finalize tooling and development of the product and shipped over 50,000 record mounts over a 5-year period through a combination of online sales and record store sales in the United States and Europe.

My inspiration for STSH Wallet /stash/ came to me while on a run. My apartment complex required me to carry a NFC key card along with a traditional key. Having to carry both my wallet and keychain was often a burden when exercising or running quick errands. I decided to create a minimal wallet for when a full wallet and set of keys was unnecessary. I designed a durable, anodized aluminum wallet with an extra-wide silicone band that hid two cutouts to carry traditional keys.

My design for STSH was modeled after similar aluminum wallets available in the market. The biggest innovation in my design was the addition of a key slot in the center of each aluminum plates. In order to hide and secure the keys, I used an extra wide silicone band to safely shield the keys within the wallet.

Having developed a connection with a metal machining factory in China with my FlickDeck campaigns, I was able to create fully working prototypes for STSH in just a few weeks. I built a simple video showcasing STSH and its unique features and designed a brand for the product that highlighted its minimalism.

In December of 2016, fidget spinners accounted for 1% of online toy sales… by May of 2017, they accounted for over 17%

Before their meteoric rise, fidget spinners were only available as 3D printed or handcrafted pocket toys. After seeing their popularity rise, I decided to use my background in product development to quickly launch a high-quality fidget spinner through crowdfunding.

I launched my first Kickstarter campaign just 14 days after my initial concept design and went on to sell over $40,000 of spinners in a 6 month period. I shipped out my last batch of spinners in May of 2017, the same month that worldwide fidget spinner sales reached their peak and large-scale manufacturers drove out smaller producers and designers.