Small Design Studio & Workshop
At a small design studio, everybody plays an important role; you get to see and do a little bit of everything.
Hannah Fink, Industrial Designer at Industrial Craft, in San Francisco, CA
A Little About Hannah Fink, Industrial Designer at Industrial Craft & a Creative based in San Francisco, California
Hannah Fink is an industrial designer with a background in metal and woodworking. Her process is rooted in exploring form through physical model making and prototyping. She is a Spring 2020 graduate with a MID, Masters of Industrial Design from Pratt Institute’s Industrial and Product Design Graduate program.
Industrial Craft, founded by Max Burton last year, 2020, is a small studio and workshop based in the Mission District of San Francisco, California. Hannah works as a staff Industrial Designer.
“I’m so grateful to be part of a small team with such a big vision, and am excited to see what the future has in store for us.” *Hannah Fink, her LinkedIn post about the studio’s launch.
At a small design studio, everybody plays an important role.
Your team could be working on anywhere from 1 to 4 or more projects at once--and you’ll probably be contributing to all of them. You never know what kind of client will come your way, and with a relatively low overhead, small studios can afford to do the occasional unconventional project that larger firms typically decline. Rather than passing a project down a line of specialists, the team functions like a NASCAR pit crew. Everybody is working on the same projects together.
The best part about a small studio is that you get to see and do a little bit of everything. And by everything, I mean everything. You will have to contribute to the non-design-related duties of keeping the business running. You may find yourself helping with the studio’s business development strategy, web design and maintenance, client outreach, PR, and social media. The role requires a certain amount of business savvy, which is great if you have an entrepreneurial spirit.
“The team functions like a NASCAR pit crew. Everybody is working on the same projects together.”
The Arbor Cheese Knife is designed to be a functional piece of art. Inspired by misty forests and the sharp converging lines of tree tops, Arbor’s bold contemporary form is intended to create a sense of mystery and romance.
*Photo provided by Hannah Fink for Industrial Craft, Written content by Industrial Craft studio portfolio at industrialcraft.com/arbor.
Low fidelity prototypes for Arbor were developed and tested in house. High fidelity prototypes and final product were developed and manufactured by Cosmo Knives in British Columbia.
*Photo provided by Hannah Fink for Industrial Craft, Content by Industrial Craft at industrialcraft.com/arbor.
Working at a small design studio is exhilarating. You’re given a huge amount of responsibility very early on.
Everybody is expected to pitch in on all aspects of a project, so you’ll grow a lot very quickly. When your voice has that much impact, you feel a real sense of ownership of the projects. At a larger consultancy, you'll be working with several different teams-- each on a single project. At a small studio, you work with one team on several different projects. You get familiar with everybody’s strengths and communication styles. There is very little you can hide. One person’s wins, losses, strengths, and weaknesses affect everybody. You’re all paddling the same boat, which creates a special bond.
I joined Industrial Craft only a few months after its inception. I’ve had the opportunity to help build the studio from the ground up--literally and figuratively. I designed furniture for our showroom space, the sign for our facade, and products for our in-house brand of housewares, IC Made. I also built and managed our social media operations, contributed to our business development strategy, client outreach, concept projects, and PR. It was the ultimate design project-- designing a design studio.
Sydra, one of Hannah’s projects for the studio, an intuitive clock.
“The Sydra concept project was lead by industrial designer, Hannah Fink, as part of our inaugural concept project rollout.”
“Christened the Sydra (after the ancient world’s accurate timekeeping device – Clepsydra) wall clock, the design needs to be lauded for its simplicity with the intuitive implementation of scheduling the day to make the most out of time.”
*Featured in Yanko Design
Sydra, analog clock meets digital calendar lead by Hannah for the studio. *Image by Hannah Fink for Industrial Craft.
The Arbor Cheese Knife and Zen Serving Board. Designed a functional piece of art. *Image by Hannah for Industrial Craft.
Working with a small team means you can’t coast on your strengths. You’ll be called upon to do tasks that require your least-developed skills. There are no specialists at a small studio, so you will have to teach yourself on the job. It’s a constant exercise in stretching yourself. That kind of accountability can be very stressful, but it’s balanced by a collaborative studio culture. It’s unlikely you’ll get lost down some kind of rabbit hole. Since you’re all working together, there’s always someone around to offer a second opinion or useful CAD shortcut. You’ll be working very hard, but the work is very rewarding.
“There’s always someone around to offer a second opinion or useful CAD shortcut. You’ll be working very hard, but the work is very rewarding.”
Five key values of Industrial Craft’s Studio.
01. People guide our decisions. We design to meet the needs of humanity. Our understanding of people’s needs—both those articulated and unrecognized—powers our imagination. It fills our work with purpose and intention.
02. We explore the whole system. Nothing exists in isolation. People, spaces, things, and everything in between are part of intricate systems that shape the ways we live. Our thinking is holistic.
03. Our creativity is collaborative. We work side by side with our clients to get the best from each other. We balance client priorities with our creative process. Rapid cycles of tangible prototypes help to drive our design decisions with confidence. Our collaborative approach delivers original solutions that solve business and human needs.
04. We’re relentless about quality. We obsess over the details and we make decisions that are focused and clear. We strive to create products that have lasting value and relevance.
05. Design creates culture. We explore machine, digital, and human-to-human interactions over space and time to reduce friction, introduce simplicity, and create culture. Our products manifest rituals, beliefs, and behaviors—the very fabric of the culture we live in and the future we aspire to create.
Thank you, Hannah, for joining us as a guest blogger.
To one of the coolest designers out there, thank you. Hannah, we are honored to have you wrap up the final wave of our blog series, Where Do Women in ID Work, with your beautiful work and open & honest insights into working at a small studio.
To follow Hannah along her design journey, visit her portfolio at hannahrfink.com or follow her @therealhannahfink; To learn more about Industrial Craft studio at industrialcraft.com or follow their rad team on Instagram @industrialcraft.
Hannah hanging out in a cozy corner of the Industrial Craft studio. *Image by @industrialcraft.
Industrial Craft’s beautiful showroom. *Image provided by Hannah Fink for Industrial Craft.
THANK YOU, Hannah, FOR GIVING US A GLIMPSE INTO YOUR CAREER & WORK AS AN INSPIRING WOMAN IN DESIGN.
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