MEET OUR MAKER #5: JOE MACKECHNIE
Joe entered the TDC universe as an event bartender. Now a Product Design Engineer, he’s been back not only visit the team, but also to wow us with his seriously impressive event bar designs.
1.What do you make?
Currently I work at a brand launch studio, Acidmark, who build and launch brands which have innovative new products. These are all start ups so there is a huge amount of product development, prototyping, and testing. These products range from a new type of clean pet bed, to the worlds smallest and lightest music stand.
This means I am constantly working with new materials and processes; 3D printing, laser cutting, cardboard modelling. I love learning new skills so any new process is always interesting.
At the heart of our ethos is using brand development and product development side by side, letting one influence the other and always striving to put more restraints on the design process by working to the brand’s niches.
Previously I have worked in the audio industry, designing and building headphones. Before that I built a mobile cocktail bar for pop-up events, and in my more maker-y days I produced a range of concrete bowls.
2.What’s the key to making it (i.e your success)?
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained” was a quote I read somewhere that really resonated with me. I’ve tried to include that in all of the work I do and even personally. If you’re willing to try something new, fail and learn from it then you will always grow as a business and a person.
Putting yourself or your idea out there and asking for critical feedback can be daunting, but it will lead you to making bigger and better ideas that more people will love (and buy…). User feedback is so important to creating something wonderful, it should be involved at the earliest possible stage.
3.What’s been your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge has been looking at things which didn’t work out in an objective way. I’ve struggled with figuring out why a project failed because I couldn’t take personal feelings away from the equation. Things fail all the time, if you learn from your mistakes then they weren’t mistakes – they were lessons!
4.What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you’d known when you started out?
I’ve recently started to work towards a minimum viable product (MVP) and minimum viable brand (MVB) testing, which means if you have something which is close to your ideal finished idea… launch the damn thing. Put it out there for people to hold, taste, see, enjoy. The harshest critic is the general public, but they are often the most constructive.
The worst idea is the one that isn’t shared.
5.What’s your favourite drink?
Probably the hardest question of them all, in the end it has to be a Corpse Reviver No.2 – combining my days in a Tiki bar with my love of making classics.
You can find Joe on Instagram @pocketfullofdur