Ben Tew - designer - engineer

                                        About     CV                                 
                                                        

Education
Harvard University Graduate School of Design - Cambridge, Massachusetts | Master of Design Studies, Concentration Technology
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University - Blacksburg, Virginia | Master of Industrial Design
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University - Blacksburg, Virginia | Bachelor or Mechanical Engineering


Industry Experience
Hex Components | North Yorkshire, UK
Director,  July 2023 - Present
  • Founded a niche bicycle brand specializing in highly customizable, 3D-printed metal bicycle components. Developed a proprietary digital pipeline to optimize printability and achieve unprecedented levels of aesthetic detail.
  • Partnered with Industry leaders in Metal Additive Manufacturing to integrate their 3D Printers into our digital pipeline.

Simplifyber Inc. | Raleigh, North Carolina USA
CTO,  February 2022 - July 2023  //  Engineering Lead,  July 2021 - February 2022
  • Led development of innovative biomaterials and cleantech manufacturing for the fashion industry.
  • Led development of a digital pipeline for mass-customizing 3D-printed molds for Simplifyber’s cellulose biomaterial soft goods.
  • Secured $4.9M in funding through technical leadership and strategic partnerships.
  • Oversaw Design, Materials, and Hardware teams from concept to pilot-scale production.
  • Pioneered world’s first fully molded shoe upper using HP 3D printing and Simplifyber biomaterial.
  • Built strategic partnerships with industry leaders to accelerate product development of prototype shoes in 5 months.
  • Developed roadmap for MVP, process, and material, integrating external suppliers and end-to-end manufacturing process.

Kniterate Inc. | London, UK
Engineering Lead,  March 2019 - March 2021
  • Advised on the overall design development and production of the mechanical, electromechanical and skin of Kniterate’s first and second generation work top digital knitting machine.
  • Significanly reduced the BOM and decreased assembly time on Kniterate’s second generation by developing cast unibody design for the main structure of the machine. .
  • Increased reliability and durablity of the needle bed racking mechanisms, carriage rail systems and oil sump systems through via integrating off the shelf linear bearing and belt drive components.
   
Atelier Tew Ltd. | Sheffield, UK
Director, August 2013- Aug 2021
  • Advised startups on mechanical design and product development.
  • Designed and created public art installations worldwide for Jason Bruges studios and many others.
  • Provided contract engineering and design services to the consumer products and architecture industries.

Brilliant Stages Ltd. | Hitchin, UK
Design Engineer,  September 2013- April 2014
  • Led design of modular drape system for Robbie Williams tour and mechanics of Coca-Cola Olympic Pavilion
  • Designed stage elements for touring and entertainment industries.

Jason Bruges Studio Ltd. | London, UK
Designer/Engineer,  May 2011 - September 2013
  • Managed detail design, prototyping, manufacture, and installation  of  large scale interactive light based artworks.
  • Lead the design and engineering of the mechatronic lighting installation within the Coca-Cola Beat Box interactive experience at the 2012 London Olympics.

Academic Experience
Sheffield Institute of Arts - Sheffield Hallam University (Part Time)
Senior Lecturer in Design Interaction, January 2017 - July 2022  
  • Lead Tutor for Design Interaction modules within MA Design program.
  • Tutor Design Interaction in modules across all design courses in the school including Product Design, Interior Design, Jewelry and Metalwork, Visual Communication, and Fashion.
  • Head of  new multidisciplinary Creative Technology Lab aimed at introducing new digital technology to all disciplines at the school.

School of Architecture - The University of Sheffield  
Visiting Tutor, October 2014 - May 2016
  • Conducted metalworking workshop with third year Landscape Architecture students.
  • Conducted interactive design and arduino workshops for Masters Students in the MAAD program.

Royal College of Art, Innovation Design Engineering program - London, UK
Visiting Tutor, March 2012 - May 2013
  • Advised Masters students during the creation of mechanical/electrical products for the Gizmo Module.
  • Guided students on construction methods, materials, and mechanism used in their Gizmos.
  • Aided in design and debugging of electronics and adruino coding used to actuation and control.

School of Industrial and Interaction Design at Syracuse University -  Syracuse, New York, USA
Visiting Designer/Professor,  August 2009 - May 2010
  • Conducted 2nd year industrial design studio focusing on design visualization and form development.
  • Served as technical design expert and provided students with technical design guidance.
  • Conducted  Design Communication/Graphics and 3D modeling /Rapid Prototyping seminars.
  • Advised students about design visualization, professional practice, research, 3D modeling and prototyping.

School of Architecture and Design at Virginia Tech - Blacksburg, Virginia
Graduate Teaching Assistant, August 2007 - May 2008
  • Assisted with teaching of third year industrial design studio and 3D modeling seminar.
  • Served as Research assistant for the NSF funded Phoebes Field Project.
  • Aided students with design research, sketching techniques, Adobe Creative Suite 3 and Solidworks.



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