Sunday March 9th, 12:00 PM
Seminar room: 124 (Atrium Level)
Presented by David Wang, Brook & Breeze founder
Over the past 10 years, David Wang has been designing and fabricating bikes and bike stuff using his hands, power tools, and desktop digital fabrication equipment (i.e. lasers and 3d printing). There’s A LOT of joy in doing this, but it’s crazy hard to balance the “time cost” of making your own products with “market price” that allows us to sustain as small businesses.
Tapping into a global supply chain traditionally has allowed big brands to cut costs and lose control over the production of their products. But, there (might) be a middle roady enabled by changes in technology, logistics, and media.
David kicked-off his bike career making by building bicycles out of bamboo and teaching others to do it. This material is super fun, but requires a high amount of hands-on attention making outsourcing the production near impossible (and a lot less fun). Over the past 10 years, David has travelled across China, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico, and the United States figuring out how to weave together a supply chain that allows him (and his team) to continuing to make their own designs while lowering costs to market competive levels. This has meant a transition from 95% making to 60% making, but it has also unlocked a sustainable future for everyone who loves to build. Come hear the story and make some friends!
