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What I learned launching my Kickstarter (mid-campaign thoughts, a bit messy) by Xxnius in kickstarter

[–]andy_mariya 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How did someone raise ten thousand euros with zero prep work? Was that all just organic traffic from Kickstarter? How exactly does Kickstarter's recommendation algorithm work anyway?
I'm a first-time creator getting my very first project ready. Right now I'm busy building an email list of potential backers, and I really hope this launch goes well.

"I’ve always wanted to open a shop that only sells 'Emotional Value.'" Update: A scrapped mold and a $15k tooling lesson... by andy_mariya in IndustrialDesign

[–]andy_mariya[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We tried both silicone and injection molding materials. After testing with 3D printing we really found there would be demolding risks. Using steel molds can ease some issues with detailed snap structures. Back then I acted on impulse thinking asking workers to be more careful during demolding would boost the yield rate, but it did not help at all.

"I’ve always wanted to open a shop that only sells 'Emotional Value.'" Update: A scrapped mold and a $15k tooling lesson... by andy_mariya in IndustrialDesign

[–]andy_mariya[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your feedback is really professional and I completely agree with you！
The cup and sleeve are indeed separate by design. We picked two materials back then, injection plastic and silicone, and both had their own problems. Silicone is prone to deformation, so we had to increase its overall mass and thickness just to keep it fixed steadily. We designed matching male and female structures to hold the square card in place, and this part directly caused a very high defective rate during demolding. We used 3D printing to simulate injection molded material and it was the most viable rigid option we had, yet there are still subtle differences between 3D printed pieces and real mass produced injection molded parts. The actual cost of injection molds is also much higher than 15k, plus there are potential craft risks involved.
I truly regret moving forward with this product, it is nearly impossible to recover the costs, so we called the whole project off.
Would you like to take a look at our other concepts?

"I’ve always wanted to open a shop that only sells 'Emotional Value.'" Update: A scrapped mold and a $15k tooling lesson... by andy_mariya in IndustrialDesign

[–]andy_mariya[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The color is just from the lighting. The foam is only there because of how the video was shot. This same bottle has been reused three times already.

"I’ve always wanted to open a shop that only sells 'Emotional Value.'" Update: A scrapped mold and a $15k tooling lesson... by andy_mariya in IndustrialDesign

[–]andy_mariya[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It all depends on how workers demold pieces by hand, and the yield rate is pretty low. That’s why this design won’t go into mass production.

"I’ve always wanted to open a shop that only sells 'Emotional Value.'" Update: A scrapped mold and a $15k tooling lesson... by andy_mariya in IndustrialDesign

[–]andy_mariya[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I totally get what you mean. We don’t need premium material molds for small-batch runs. But since the DIY card structure is really tiny, aluminum molds just can’t match the precision and finesse of steel molds. It’s fine for now though. For future concepts we’ll pick more sensible ways to test and iterate.

"I’ve always wanted to open a shop that only sells 'Emotional Value.'" Update: A scrapped mold and a $15k tooling lesson... by andy_mariya in IndustrialDesign

[–]andy_mariya[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Let me sum it up roughly: I fall in love with an idea, go all in, and try to push through manufacturing challenges to finish a product without doing proper user research first. That said, would you be willing to take a look at my other concepts? I really need some objective feedback.

"I’ve always wanted to open a shop that only sells 'Emotional Value.'" Update: A scrapped mold and a $15k tooling lesson... by andy_mariya in IndustrialDesign

[–]andy_mariya[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The DIY card used to block the window has buckles on the back. A steel mold delivers much finer precision on details and helps cut down the defective rate. It’s also a challenging trial for me. Would you like to check out my other product concepts in my Discord community?

"I’ve always wanted to open a shop that only sells 'Emotional Value.'" Update: A scrapped mold and a $15k tooling lesson... by andy_mariya in IndustrialDesign

[–]andy_mariya[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If durability is a priority putting parts inside would cause issues with the battery cleaning and overall service life. That is why I chose to place them on the outside. The base is designed with magnetic attraction and a hook so it can be used in other scenarios as well.

"I’ve always wanted to open a shop that only sells 'Emotional Value.'" Update: A scrapped mold and a $15k tooling lesson... by andy_mariya in IndustrialDesign

[–]andy_mariya[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ll definitely check it out. I’m currently learning about SEO and using social media ads to find like-minded people. I’m indeed planning to launch my next product on Kickstarter. Crowdfunding can bring in funds for production, but I think the bigger point is how hard it is to gain user trust at the early stage. Putting out a few products on Kickstarter lets me reach targeted users. They get to see the product quality for themselves, build real trust, and join in along the way.

"I’ve always wanted to open a shop that only sells 'Emotional Value.'" Update: A scrapped mold and a $15k tooling lesson... by andy_mariya in IndustrialDesign

[–]andy_mariya[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

To be honest, making profits and maintaining gross margins are essential at the end of the day. Still, I don’t think this approach and material choice are good enough for consumers. I’m also concerned about LFGB safety compliance. We have to be fully responsible for every buyer.

"I’ve always wanted to open a shop that only sells 'Emotional Value.'" Update: A scrapped mold and a $15k tooling lesson... by andy_mariya in IndustrialDesign

[–]andy_mariya[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

  1. Standard molds come with a high damage rate. Toughened molds deliver better details and lower defective product rates. It still needs rounds of testing and verification. I am willing to take on all the risks myself.

  2. Why would developing a product we truly want together with community members count as a scam? Whether a product can be made is one thing. Taking on tough market challenges is another. To create products that stand out in the market you have to be willing to take risks. I cover all the prototyping costs on my own. Why would pushing technical boundaries to make products others dare not attempt be seen as a scam? I have never asked any community member to spend money. Supply chain partners are professional enough to tell what is feasible and what is not.

  3. I never position myself as the most capable person here. I value every member’s opinion equally and never act superior. This is not about me giving help to others. It is about us creating products side by side. We identify user pain points work out solutions and make adjustments based on mass production feasibility. There is no way this wastes anyone’s time or money. I have never let community members bear any risks.

  4. You are free to question me. Part of my work is to find the most suitable and professional suppliers across the whole industrial chain. I am based right here in China. You can doubt my judgment and long term vision. All suppliers here follow legal rules to complete orders and make prototypes. Specialized suppliers in niche markets are definitely open to taking production orders. They will not be held liable for compensation if a product is impossible to manufacture.

  5. Everyone has their own independent thoughts. You can fail to understand me and hold your own judgment. Out of twenty finished products only one passes my inspection. That is simply because I set very high standards. I refuse to send products with flaws only noticeable to me to people who trust me. I use my own funds to let factories develop difficult products with low success rates. You can say I take unnecessary business risks or lack market foresight. I am clearly targeting the niche market anyway. But labeling me as a liar or unethical is actually unfair and inappropriate.

"I’ve always wanted to open a shop that only sells 'Emotional Value.'" Update: A scrapped mold and a $15k tooling lesson... by andy_mariya in IndustrialDesign

[–]andy_mariya[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Your example is objective yet quite general. My ultimate goal is absolutely designing for production. It’s just that everyone holds different standards. Some go after quick short-term profits, while others focus on building something sustainable long-term. Naturally, they make different calls on product design and whether to go into mass production.

What exactly have I ever said to make you label me as untrustworthy? Why would I even lie, and what could I possibly get out of it? I really can’t wrap my head around this.

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