I'd never have guessed that newfangled drawing tools would become a hit category for crowdfunding, but the $84 Stria folding ruler and $120 Iris circle drawing object have erased those doubts. Now there's a new entry, which seems every bit as silly to me: A set of hexagonal ruler template-thingies from Hong-Kong-based Yuan Design Studio.
Here's what they do:
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The product copy on the Kickstarter campaign page is nonsense, targeting "ambitious designer[s}" using words and phrases like "freedom" and "your design journey." Yet the ruler sets, which run about USD $70, have been over 1,000% funded, with 25 days left in the campaign.
There is a lesson here for design entrepreneurs. Yuan Design Studio founder Im Ken originally provided lasercutting services for other designers. If I had to guess, I'd say the birth of this product came more from "What can I make with a lasercutter" than "What do people need that I can provide?"
I suppose I should be encouraged by the popularity of items like these, as it means perhaps more people are drawing; but the cynic in me suspects it's just more stuff to fill drawers with.
I’m a lapsed industrial designer. I was born in NYC and figured I’d die there, but a few years ago I abandoned New York to live on a farm in the countryside with my wife. We have six dogs.
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Yet Another Set of Designey Drawing Tools Kills It on Kickstarter
I always like having ninja stars in my sketching tools bag. Looks pro. :p
Definitely lots of gifts that will end up in drawers. If you're using tools for sketching, you're doing it wrong. If you're doing technical drawings, use a computer. Obviously you can use whatever you want but this is just going to slow you down and hinder your ability to actually sketch/draw. Playing your demo video at 10x makes it seem so easy and fun. Classic internet BS.