110: Mid-life Crisis Hobby

In this episode, Mike Hurley chats with Tom Gairhan and Dan Prove from Studio Neat about their entrepreneurial journey since 2010. They discuss their latest product, the Mark II, exploring its redesign in relation to previous iterations and the thought process behind various design choices. Tom and Dan highlight how feedback from users helps shape product features, like the decision to support D1 style refills instead of the Fisher refill, to enhance user experiences and streamline assembly processes.

The conversation delves into the philosophy of design as a trade-off, particularly how features can change based on manufacturing improvements and market demands. They're proud of the adjustments made to the Mark II for better assembly and reliability, leading to a pen that's more user-friendly and visually appealing. Dan emphasizes that by removing the requirement for the Fisher refill, the pen could be made more compact, leading to an overall enhancement of the product.

Dan shares his new mid-life hobby of building guitars, detailing the learning curve and community support he's experienced. He recounts his history with guitar playing, his desire to learn more about music theory, and the fascinating journey down the path of guitar construction. He discusses customizing aspects of the guitar to fit his preferences and expresses the satisfaction that comes with crafting an instrument from scratch.

As the chat continues, they explore the resurgence of artisanal craftsmanship in hobbies like guitar building. Dan reflects on the thriving community behind hobbyist guitar building, including the small businesses that fill gaps left by larger manufacturers. The episode touches upon the connections between various creative industries, particularly the parallels between guitar customization and other personal tinkering pursuits, such as mechanical keyboards.