Brooklyn, NY

me@adamwrigley.com

Summary

Design Director with experience leading multidisciplinary teams on innovation initiatives encompassing Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, Visual Design, UI, UX, IxD, Architecture, Technology, and Brand. Background in M.E., and 16+ years of consulting experience in a wide range of industries for clients spanning from startups to established Fortune 50s. My work can be seen around the world: inside wallets, on internationally televised shows, and implanted inside human skulls.

Experience

frog design - May 2010 - September 2023

Design Director (July 2022 - September 2023)

Direct teams on multifaceted innovation projects spanning all disciplines of frog - ID/ME/UX/UI/IxD/VD/Strat etc. Oversee initiatives from business development to design to manufacturing support. Pioneered use of Generative AI on client projects. Catering to a spectrum of clients including JP Morgan and AT&T.

Principal (May 2019-July 2022)

Lead teams on innovation programs, bridging mechanical engineering with industrial design, ensuring strategic alignment with client objectives for clients. Pioneered use of VR on client projects for user research and design activities. Clients such as Heatworks, Touchtunes, and T-Mobile.

Mechanical Engineer (Level II May 2010 - Oct 2014, Senior Oct 2014 - May 2019)

Served as the primary engineer for NYC-led projects, guiding them from conception to production. Expanded role over time to include industrial design, managed the prototype shop, and oversaw user research, site reviews, and presentations. Clients include LQD Wifi, Verizon, and Oculus.

Battlebots - 2019 - Present

Team Captain - Bots FC

Design, construct, and operate combat robots for the Discovery Channel television show, "BattleBots." BattleBots involves not just engineering and design, but high stakes driving, interviews on national television, international logistics, project management, social media management, branding and merchandising. Also served as on screen commentator during select episodes alongside Kenny Florian and Chris Rose.

Object Three - 2013

Co-Founder

Co-founded a company which successfully crowdfunded a multitool keychain - shipping hundreds of units to over a dozen countries. Led design, manufacturing, and campaign establishment.

Smart Design - December 2009 - May 2010

Mechanical Engineering Intern

Engaged in engineering design tasks, from ideation to final mechanical design for renowned brands like OXO and Pyrex.

Freelancer - May 2009 - December 2009

Collaborated with clients including Flo Design Wind, offering services from mechanical engineering to vendor liaison.

Page Product Design - August 2007 - May 2009

Design Engineer

Contributed to diverse projects in a boutique firm, from crafting folding snowshoes to analyzing implantable medical devices and conceptualizing wind turbine structures for clients such as Spalding and Depuy.

Selected Client List

AB Inbev, AT&T, Banco Azteca, Bank of America, Brooklyn Brewery, GE, JPMorgan Chase, Kellogg’s, Kimberly Clark, Molson Coors, Oculus, OXO, Pyrex, Sloan, Spalding, Staples, T-Mobile, TouchTunes, Verizon, Walmart

Selected Industries

Banking (ATM, POS, Credit Cards [plastic and metal]), Business & Consumer Electronics, CPG, DOOH Advertising, Home Appliances, Medical, Mobility, Personal Accessories, Sporting Goods

Software

Awesome: Solidworks, Keyshot, PowerPoint, MidJourney

Great: Photoshop, Illustrator, Office, ChatGPT

Decent: Pro/e, Marvelous Designer, Pepakura

Other Notable Skills

Awesome: Leading Teams, Ideating, Public Speaking, 3D Printing, Research

Great: Feasibility Prototypes, DFM, Plastic Part Design, FEA/CFD

Decent: Tailoring, Appearance Models, Woodworking, Metalworking

Education & Notable Recognition

BS in Mechanical Engineering, Cum Laude 2007 - Lafayette College

IDSA Silver 2019, CES Best Of Innovation (Home Appliances) 2019 - "Tetra" - Team awards for our concept dishwasher.

Broadcast, 2019-Present, BattleBots - “Shatter!” - Combat robot design which fought in American competitions. Winningest ‘omnidirectional’ robot of all time, has appeared on 4 seasons of Discovery Channel’s BattleBots television program.

Broadcast, 2017 & 2018, King of Bots, This Is Fighting Robots - “Blue” - Combat robot design which fought in Chinese competitions (episodes were viewed over 1 billion times on Youku). Part of championship team on “This is Fighting Robots” - the most watched combat robotics competition of all time.

Featured, Late 2016, Gizmodo, Popular Mechanics, TechCrunch, Worn & Wound, AOL, & more - "Clockwerk 3D Printed 3 Axis Tourbillon" - Open source 6X scale watch escapement.

NYC Visual Design Award 2013, IDSA Silver 2014, Core77 Notable 2014 - Team awards for "Beacon" payphone concept.

Interests

Futurism, robotics, halloween costumes, cycling, sailing, food, foosball, watchmaking, AI