The Making Of • The ZeroPivot Protractor
Ever wonder how an idea becomes a product? Ever thought of a great idea and wants to see it on the shelfs? This here is a running log of the protractor’s journey, with every step, stumble, and win along the way. Join me, Wenxin Fang, on this journey through productization.
From Across an Ocean
After almost 2 years since its conception, I now hold within my hands an actual aluminum copy of those lines on my paper long, long ago.
Progress in Pieces
I’m back with Progress in Pieces of the protractor! Both of our suppliers have finished their samples, and now it’s just a matter of days before they arrive.
The Wire That Starts It
As the title heavily implies, it is time to pay my supplier and finally get the ball rolling on production! In this first run of 2 samples, I have 3 primary goals…
Wrapped in Rules
“You can’t judge a book by its cover”, yet you definitely can judge a product by its packaging!
Shaping for the Line
I’ve been wrapped up in the process known forebodingly to many as designing for manufacturing, also known as DFM.
Miles and Meetings
This entry will be a bit different—a travel log of sorts, tracing the Miles and Meetings that brought me to HK AA Industrial.
The Language of Deals
I think it was the sheer speed and scale of the responses to the RFQ that surprised me. Within 48 hours, I had received 8 quotations…
The Opening Bid
It is finally time to find a manufacturer, and the process began surprisingly simply!
Papers and Permissions II
I think I promised that we were going to contact manufacturers the next time I write… Well, apparently not.
Mark in Motion II
It is time! The designer has gotten back to me with the first version of the logo, and it doesn’t look quite how I expected it to…
Run of Record v6
This day marks the 1-year anniversary since the start of the “Run of Record” series of entries, and it is also where I plan to leave it.
Papers and Permissions I
It’s time for more legal headaches! To formally operate a business, several agencies need to be notified…
Run of Record v3, v4, v5
When I began designing what I now call version 3, I had good intentions
Built the Base
With a domain name, the next step is actually building the website that is to be hosted on it.
What’s in a Name?
At this point, it is a good idea to think about the future for this project.
Run of Record v2
It’s been about 2 months since the ZeroPivot Protractor has been released on Printables…
Out in the Wild
Being a few months into the project, and having reached something I am satisfied with, I thought it was about time I had someone else see this design.