Playground is a hardware VC built for the software era. It was founded to invest in software companies that happened to have physical problems, which our internal team of world-class hardware experts would help build to reduce launch risk.

As the head of the design studio I led or supported design programs for 8 consumer electronics companies in parallel.  In each effort I tailored our work to the needs of each startup, chasing their big ideas while respecting their immediate constraints.

Playground allowed me to do design consulting with skin in the game.  Here I was able to maintain the extended intimacy with each company that's required to ensure great products navigate the hard work on product development.  No other consulting arrangement exists where one design team can work in daily, same-office contact with half a dozen product companies.

This role worked just as intimately with CEOs and VCs as it did with designers, engineers, and JDMs in Asia.  Leading a design team for startups with a laser focus on shipping demands respect and effort for every discipline in the creative process.  Seriously.  For almost every program our team touched pitch decks, logo and brand design, industrial design, UI/UX, product design, hardware engineering, design for manufacturing, packaging design, sales meetings, contract negotiation, patent preparation, tech talks, incubator tours, documentation, factory bring-up, and everything else it takes to get from idea to out-of-box-experience.

It was a whirlwind experience in helping as many companies as possible embrace the mantra that real artists ship.  I loved it, but then one of those companies convinced me to go native.