The UpStanding Desk came into being because I wanted a standing desk and wasn't happy with the options available on the market. I found them to be too expensive, too clinical in appearance, and too mechanically complex. I was also constrained by the existing furniture at my school studio, which includes tall, permanent workbenches. I had student access to a very well-equipped workshop, so rather than hack a desk together out of cardboard boxes I decided to try and build something myself. Below are a few of my early sketches.
I enlisted my classmate Mikey, an industrial designer turned interaction design student, to help me realize the first version of the product. Together we turned my unstable early sketch into a prototype that I promptly set up and started using.
It could be assembled in 30 seconds with no tools or fasteners, had two adjustable levels so that I could attain the right ergonomics, and it looked surprisingly good for a first try.
Because of the reaction to the desk (we sold one to a faculty member within days of building the first one) we decided to collaborate on a Kickstarter and launch The UpStanding Desk as our $1,000 Project. After writing the copy, photographing the product, and creating a video, we launched our campaign.
Three weeks later we had earned just over $105,000 from more than 800 backers around the world.
The most critical lesson that I took from this project is the need to get things out in the world and test them, usually before they're ready. Before spending a lot of time on the video and the Kickstarter campaign we put four prototypes up for sale on a lightweight Shopify site and asked friends and friends-of-friends to help us sell them. All were gone in less than an hour, proving that there was a demand for the product and helping us launch the Kickstarter with more confidence. If we hadn't put the idea out in the world like that I think we would've been more hesitant with our approach.
I also learned the importance of positivity and perseverance in the face of adversity. Our first manufacturer dumped us without warning just 1/4 of the way through our initial run, putting us two months behind schedule. This (understandably) frustrated a lot of backers, and I was the person who had to respond to their disappointed or angry emails. Throughout the delay we were as transparent as possible and eventually all of the orders were fulfilled.
Since the campaign ended I have continued to run the website and accept orders, and we're fast approaching $1M in sales in less than two years of existence. Thanks to the strong grounding we received in user research and product iteration we have consistently solicited customer feedback, including ad hoc emails and a survey that includes over 400 responses. We've used much of that feedback in the design of the next iteration of the product, launching in early 2016.