Theodore Ullrich
Designer & Engineer
Photo by Ewan Burns, 2014
Entrepreneur Magazine Subscription Issue, February 2014
TEDxPurdue, April 2016
How Tomorrow Lab invents products that matter | Dropbox Customer Stories | Dropbox, June 2019
The Verge & Intel: The Future Is Now, March 2014
TEDxPurdue, April 2016
TEDxAtlanta, May 2014
Hardwired NYC, October 2014
CONTACT ME
PATENTS
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TRADEMARKS
CREATIVE FRIENDS & INFLUENCERS
TALKS, WORKSHOPS, PRESS
02/23/2024 - THE WALL STREET JOURNAL - NEW YORK, NY
Guest expert using AI to illustrate cell phone concepts in What Does the Future Smartphone Look Like? Video on wsj.com.
Guest expert using AI to illustrate cell phone concepts in What Does the Future Smartphone Look Like? Video on wsj.com.
02/12/2024 - 4D PROGRAM AT CRANBROOK ACADEMY OF ART - BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI
Studio desk crits and a lecture about Tomorrow Lab and the role of AI in product design.
Studio desk crits and a lecture about Tomorrow Lab and the role of AI in product design.
07/10/2023 - Uncharted Learning National Summit - CHICAGO, IL
Summit Session Speaker. Topic: Prototyping at Tomorrow Lab®, a Hardware Invention Studio.
Summit Session Speaker. Topic: Prototyping at Tomorrow Lab®, a Hardware Invention Studio.
10/18/2022 - LOS ANGELES CLEAN TECH INCUBATOR - LOS ANGELES, CA
Hosted 3hr Workshop on battery fundamentals and battery design in light electric vehicles (LEVs), including PLUS Rides, Inc.
Hosted 3hr Workshop on battery fundamentals and battery design in light electric vehicles (LEVs), including PLUS Rides, Inc.
07/20/2022 - LOS ANGELES CLEAN TECH INCUBATOR - LOS ANGELES, CA
Presentation about the Design & Engineering of the PLUS Scooter at the 6th LA Hardware Meetup
Presentation about the Design & Engineering of the PLUS Scooter at the 6th LA Hardware Meetup
10/21/2020 - 4D PROGRAM AT CRANBROOK ACADEMY OF ART - BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI
Remote 4-week graduate-level workshop about Creating a remote presence device that addresses an issue experienced during the pandemic of 2020.
Remote 4-week graduate-level workshop about Creating a remote presence device that addresses an issue experienced during the pandemic of 2020.
04/08/2020 - PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN STRATEGIES - NEW YORK, NY
Lecture on Prototyping - Parsons School of Design Strategies, MSc Strategic Design and Management, Integrative Studio 1
Lecture on Prototyping - Parsons School of Design Strategies, MSc Strategic Design and Management, Integrative Studio 1
11/08/2019 - PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN - NEW YORK, NY
Panelist at What's Wrong With Design?, a diagnostic panel discussion on how "good design" is able to problem-solve and generate solutions for a sustainably better future.
Panelist at What's Wrong With Design?, a diagnostic panel discussion on how "good design" is able to problem-solve and generate solutions for a sustainably better future.
10/18/2019 - 4D PROGRAM AT CRANBROOK ACADEMY OF ART - BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI
Lecture to the Academy. Topic: Bridging Tomorrow and Today with 4D Design VIDEO
Lecture to the Academy. Topic: Bridging Tomorrow and Today with 4D Design VIDEO
10/16/2019 - 4D PROGRAM AT CRANBROOK ACADEMY OF ART - BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI
Three day graduate-level workshop about Personalizing existing products: How can we re-write the story of well-known products into objects that are far more personal and reflective of us?
Three day graduate-level workshop about Personalizing existing products: How can we re-write the story of well-known products into objects that are far more personal and reflective of us?
10/14/2019 - STARTUPBOOTCAMP - NEW YORK, NY
Hardware Mentor at Startupbootcamp New York FastTrack
Hardware Mentor at Startupbootcamp New York FastTrack
02/14/2019 - DESIGN LAB @ NYU TANDON MAKERSPACE - BROOKLYN, NY
Working in the Design & Engineering Industry, with Tomorrow Lab
Working in the Design & Engineering Industry, with Tomorrow Lab
02/02/2018 - A/D/O - BROOKLYN, NY
Workshop host with NEW INC and A/D/O at the MAKE/MODEL hackathon. Topic: Hardware Prototyping
Workshop host with NEW INC and A/D/O at the MAKE/MODEL hackathon. Topic: Hardware Prototyping
12/14/2017 - LINKEDIN HEADQUARTERS - NEW YORK, NY
Creating A Product Costs Time And Money... But How Much? VIDEO
Creating A Product Costs Time And Money... But How Much? VIDEO
09/19/2017 - SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS (SVA) GROUND FLOOR INCUBATOR - NEW YORK, NY
Mentor and Workshop host to startup founders. Topic: Articulating Your Manufacturing Strategy
Mentor and Workshop host to startup founders. Topic: Articulating Your Manufacturing Strategy
09/18/2017 - THE WALL STREET JOURNAL - NEW YORK, NY
Guest lecturer to Employees of The Wall Street Journal. Topic: Hardware Innovation for Media Companies
Guest lecturer to Employees of The Wall Street Journal. Topic: Hardware Innovation for Media Companies
08/01/2017 - COOPER HEWITT DESIGN MUSEUM - NEW YORK, NY
Guest Designer & workshop co-host at the museum's Design Camp 2017. Topic: Design & prototyping inspired by early 20th century American inventions. Link to Event
Guest Designer & workshop co-host at the museum's Design Camp 2017. Topic: Design & prototyping inspired by early 20th century American inventions. Link to Event
06/22/2017 - NEW YORK UNIVERSITY - NEW YORK, NY
Workshop Host at NYU Summer Launchpad. Topic: Hardware Prototyping and Manufacturing for Entrepreneurs.
Workshop Host at NYU Summer Launchpad. Topic: Hardware Prototyping and Manufacturing for Entrepreneurs.
05/17/2017 - STANFORD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS - STANFORD, CA
Guest speaker. Topic: Hardware Entrepreneurship for Designers and Engineers.
Guest speaker. Topic: Hardware Entrepreneurship for Designers and Engineers.
03/07/2017 - SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS (SVA) GROUND FLOOR INCUBATOR - NEW YORK, NY
Mentor and Workshop co-host to startup founders. Topic: Articulating Your Manufacturing Strategy
Mentor and Workshop co-host to startup founders. Topic: Articulating Your Manufacturing Strategy
10/28/2016 - UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - PHILADELPHIA, PA
Speaker at UPenn's Integrated Product Design program's Professional Practice course. Topic: Entrepreneurship & Design. Link to Presentation
Speaker at UPenn's Integrated Product Design program's Professional Practice course. Topic: Entrepreneurship & Design. Link to Presentation
05/17/2016 - SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS - NEW YORK, NY
Closing Keynote Speaker at 2016 MFA Interaction Design Festival, School of Visual Arts.
Closing Keynote Speaker at 2016 MFA Interaction Design Festival, School of Visual Arts.
04/09/2016 - PURDUE UNIVERSITY - WEST LAFAYETTE, IN
Speaker at TEDxPurdueU 2016. Article here. VIDEO.
Speaker at TEDxPurdueU 2016. Article here. VIDEO.
01/28/2016 - IRIS WORLDWIDE - NEW YORK, NY
Speaker at Under the Influence speaker series. Topic: The intersection between Advertising Agencies and Product Design & Development groups. How to create products that have a major impact on brands and culture while also retaining a life of their own.
Speaker at Under the Influence speaker series. Topic: The intersection between Advertising Agencies and Product Design & Development groups. How to create products that have a major impact on brands and culture while also retaining a life of their own.
10/26/2015 - RISE NEW YORK - NEW YORK, NY
Speaker at CIID and Rise New York Present: 'Getting To Good Quicker'. Topic: Case studies & lessons on developing connected hardware products. VIDEO
Speaker at CIID and Rise New York Present: 'Getting To Good Quicker'. Topic: Case studies & lessons on developing connected hardware products. VIDEO
10/13/2015 - VERIZON BUILDING - NEW YORK, NY
Panelist and Speaker at NYC Tech Week: IoT Panel Discussion, Sponsored by Grind+Verizon
Panelist and Speaker at NYC Tech Week: IoT Panel Discussion, Sponsored by Grind+Verizon
09/24/2015 - NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE - QUEENS, NY
Panelist and Speaker at MakerCon New York 2015. Topic: DESIGN: A New Design Sense
Panelist and Speaker at MakerCon New York 2015. Topic: DESIGN: A New Design Sense
09/16/2015 - Creating Urban Tech Summit - BERLIN, GERMANY
Panelist and Speaker. Topic: Civic Data Devices and the power of Open Data to transform cities.
Panelist and Speaker. Topic: Civic Data Devices and the power of Open Data to transform cities.
06/25/2015 - LMHQ - NEW YORK, NY
Panelist and Speaker at Building a Responsive City. Topic: Civic Data Devices.
Panelist and Speaker at Building a Responsive City. Topic: Civic Data Devices.
04/30/2015 - Urban Manufacturing Meetup - LONG ISLAND CITY, NY
Panelist at Meetup. Topic: Prototype to Production in the US.
Panelist at Meetup. Topic: Prototype to Production in the US.
03/05/2015 - MOVERS & SHAKERS, CONFERENCE FOR ENTREPRENEURS - AGUASCALIENTES, MEXICO
Speaker at Movers & Shakers. Topic: Trends and Patterns in Global Entrepreneurship.
Speaker at Movers & Shakers. Topic: Trends and Patterns in Global Entrepreneurship.
10/28/2014 - AlleyWatch.com
21 People in IoT in NYC You Need To Know About
21 People in IoT in NYC You Need To Know About
10/21/2014 - Hardwired NYC - NEW YORK, NY
Speaker at Hardwired Meetup #13. Topic: Trends in NYC Hardware Startups. VIDEO
Speaker at Hardwired Meetup #13. Topic: Trends in NYC Hardware Startups. VIDEO
09/2014 - Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design, COPENHAGEN, DK
Course Instructor in the Interaction Design Programme, co-leading an Industry Course with LEGO
Course Instructor in the Interaction Design Programme, co-leading an Industry Course with LEGO
07/2014 - Purdue University - Purdue Alumnus Magazine
Feature in July/August 2014 Magazine and Website
Feature in July/August 2014 Magazine and Website
05/31/2014 - Department of Making + Doing, PHILADELPHIA, PA
Bike and Car Traffic Counting Workshop with WayCount and Hi-Viz
Bike and Car Traffic Counting Workshop with WayCount and Hi-Viz
05/06/2014 - TEDxAtlanta, ATLANTA, GA
Speaker on Design Studios as Invention Centers and the promise of American Entrepreneurship. VIDEO
Speaker on Design Studios as Invention Centers and the promise of American Entrepreneurship. VIDEO
03/26/2014 - FKKS, NEW YORK, NY
Panelist at Gotham Media presents Digital Breakfast: The Internet of Things
Panelist at Gotham Media presents Digital Breakfast: The Internet of Things
03/10/2014 - NYU School of Engineering, BROOKLYN, NY
Presenter at Inno/Vention Prototyping Info Session
Presenter at Inno/Vention Prototyping Info Session
02/26/2014 - Denkerei, BERLIN, GERMANY
Speaker & Panelist at the Berlin 2014 Series of Urban Knights
Speaker & Panelist at the Berlin 2014 Series of Urban Knights
02/26/2014 - Denmark International Studies Blog, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
Alumni story, Illuminating Alumni: Tomorrow’s Story from a DIS Past
Alumni story, Illuminating Alumni: Tomorrow’s Story from a DIS Past
02/10/2014 - New York University, NEW YORK, NY
Guest Lecturer on Sensors in Hardware Products. Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP).
Guest Lecturer on Sensors in Hardware Products. Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP).
01/31/2014 - Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), PROVIDENCE, RI
Guest Lecturer on Prototyping in Physical Computing
Guest Lecturer on Prototyping in Physical Computing
02/2014 - ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE - February 2014 Issue
Cover Story on Tomorrow Lab®
Cover Story on Tomorrow Lab®
10/30/2013 - New York University - Magnet Center, BROOKLYN, NY
Guest Speaker at Technology Hardware Prototyping Workshop
Guest Speaker at Technology Hardware Prototyping Workshop
09/26/2013 - City University of New York (CUNY), NEW YORK, NY
Guest Speaker at GoGreen NYC 2013
Guest Speaker at GoGreen NYC 2013
09/04/2013 - New York Tech Meetup, NEW YORK, NY
Guest Speaker presenting WayCount®
Guest Speaker presenting WayCount®
08/27/2013 - NYC Hardware Startup Meetup, NEW YORK, NY
Guest Speaker presenting Tomorrow Lab®
Guest Speaker presenting Tomorrow Lab®
07/29/2013 - School of Visual Arts (SVA), NEW YORK, NY
Guest Speaker on Design for Social Change
Guest Speaker on Design for Social Change
07/02/2013 - Martha's Table, WASHINGTON, DC
Guest Speaker on Youth Entrepreneurship at Youthful Savings Summer Entrepreneurship Program
Guest Speaker on Youth Entrepreneurship at Youthful Savings Summer Entrepreneurship Program
05/10/2013 - Business Insider
THE DESIGN 75: The Best Designers in Technology
THE DESIGN 75: The Best Designers in Technology
03/20/2013 - GOOD.is
Author of The Future of Product Design is Localized and Democratized
Author of The Future of Product Design is Localized and Democratized
04/22/2013 - School of Visual Arts (SVA), NEW YORK, NY
Final Review Panelist at Products of Design Program
Final Review Panelist at Products of Design Program
01/11/2013 - Partizaning.org - MOSCOW, RUSSIA
Biographical Review in Open Source Urbanism through Product Design
Biographical Review in Open Source Urbanism through Product Design
12/17/2012 - New York University, NEW YORK, NY
Final Review Panelist at Maters of Digital Communications and Media Program
Final Review Panelist at Maters of Digital Communications and Media Program
11/5/2012 - New York University, NEW YORK, NY
Midterm Review Panelist at Maters of Digital Communications and Media Program
Midterm Review Panelist at Maters of Digital Communications and Media Program
08/15/2012 - Strelka Institute, MOSCOW, RUSSIA
Speaker at Creating Public Spaces
Speaker at Creating Public Spaces
08/10/2012 - 08/15/2012 - Strelka Institute, MOSCOW, RUSSIA
Changing Tomorrow by Intervening Today Workshop
Changing Tomorrow by Intervening Today Workshop
06/25/2012 - Copenhagen Institute for Interaction Design (CIID), COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
Guest Speaker on How can open-source rapid fabrication techniques be used to produce sellable products, not just prototypes
Guest Speaker on How can open-source rapid fabrication techniques be used to produce sellable products, not just prototypes
03/2012 - 06/2012 - Drexel University, PHILADELPHIA, PA & CIID in COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
Course Organizer & Instructor Opening Audio Studio Course
Course Organizer & Instructor Opening Audio Studio Course
10/15/2011 - Flux Factory, QUEENS, NY
Guest Speaker on The Industrial Designer's Role in Tactical Urbanism at the Tactical Urbanism Salon
Guest Speaker on The Industrial Designer's Role in Tactical Urbanism at the Tactical Urbanism Salon
03/17/2010 - Eyebeam Art & Technology Center, NEW YORK, NY
Participant and co-organizer for Opening Hardware
Participant and co-organizer for Opening Hardware
04/2009 - IDSA Southern District Conference, NEW ORLEANS, LA
Presentation of Masters Thesis work from Georgia Tech - Tangible Human Interaction Prototypes
Presentation of Masters Thesis work from Georgia Tech - Tangible Human Interaction Prototypes
10/2008 - Art House Gallery, ATLANTA, GA
THE WALL featured at Art House Gallery during Le Flash Event
THE WALL featured at Art House Gallery during Le Flash Event
05/2008 - 07/2008 - Museum of Design Atlanta, ATLANTA, GA
Models exhibited at Museum of Design Atlanta's Made in Georgia Show
Models exhibited at Museum of Design Atlanta's Made in Georgia Show
PHILOSOPHY & FOCUS
I am an Industrial Designer, Interdisciplinary Engineer, and Entrepreneur who is committed to developing revolutionary products for a better future. For those who follow astrology, I was born in the year of the Mac. In 1984, a grinning, bow-tied Steve Jobs unveiled the Mac: a vision for an alternative future. For myself and other product designers who grew up on Apple, the company imprinted a set of unshakable expectations for tomorrow's hardware products: they must be simple, intuitive, and beautiful.
In my professional work and in public speaking opportunities, I am focused on understanding and promoting a style of entrepreneurship which cradles risk taking, championing design studios as invention centers, and advancing our culture through market-driven adoptions of mass manufactured technology products that solve problems. I especially admire products which are built on a technical feat of science, thereby advancing society with a new widespread capability.
Physical products are my priority because I believe they provide a deeper potential to affect change than apps or websites alone. I think its because, at the end of the day, we are physical creatures and find deeper utility, joy, and permanence with products we can touch.
ABOUT
Theodore Ullrich is the founding partner at Tomorrow Lab ®, an internationally recognized hardware innovation studio based in New York City. Tomorrow Lab develops smart hardware products for their clients, and was recognized on the cover of Entrepreneur Magazine in 2014 as Top Tech Innovators. He regularly speaks on the role of design studios as invention centers and the application of science and design to entrepreneurial ventures to create new technology products that solve big problems.
He holds a Master of Industrial Design (MID) Degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), and a Bachelor of Inventive Design Engineering (BSE) Degree from Purdue University, and has lead product design studio courses at Georgia Institute of Technology, Drexel University, the School of Visual Arts NYC (SVA), Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design (CIID), and Cranbrook Academy of Art.