Welcome, friend.

I've been developing products and leading design teams for 12+ years with deep expertise in hardware product management, industrial design, and management consulting.

My work spans consumer, commercial, industrial, and defense sectors. I have developed physical products, visual brand languages, design-to-value programs, agentic AI platforms, crowdfunding campaigns, and more.

Please enjoy my selected works and product articles or jump to my resume.
Feel free to reach me at rosscbrinkman@gmail.com.

Selected Works

Subversia

Product development, marketing, and launch of card game.

Bosch GTS15 & 18V

Product development of corded and cordless table saws.

Bosch GNB18V

Product development of cordless concrete nailer.

Bosch GLL100-40G

Product development of laser level incorporating new technology.

Nortek Security

Visual brand language for suite of home security devices.

Hitachi

Global visual brand language and product development strategy for heating and cooling portfolio.

Skilsaw Buzzkill

Product development of two reciprocating saws incorporating new technology.

EV Evolve Series

Product development for series of professional column speakers.

Nododo

Product and brand development of interlocking toy system.

Beastgrip

Product and system development for "phoneography" devices.

Thule Vectros

Product development of first Macbook bumper.

Kre-O Cityville Invasion

Product development of Hasbro's building block toys.

Product Articles

In 2018, I founded Kearney's Product Of The Month editorial. I led a small team to research and generate perspectives on everyday products. We tested each product, interviewed experts, crafted creative assets, and shared our insights with thousands of product enthusiasts through images, video, and written articles. Our focus is on products that carry a potential large scale influence across the product, design, development, and supply chain landscapes. Enjoy!

Ray-Ban Meta Glasses

By Ben Dibuz
Contributor: Pat Kusbel (Former Director of Engineering, Snapchat Spectacles)

GE Indoor Smoker

By Eligius Allan
Contributor: Kevin Nolan (CEO, GE)

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

By Ross Brinkman & Alex Gallard
Contributors: Raza Haider (CPO, Bose) & Alice Yurgold (Sr. Product Manager, Bose)

Arccos Golf Sensors

By Tyler Yang
Contributor: Darren Feeney (VP of Marketing, Arccos)

DeWalt DW735

By Ross Brinkman & Jack Grant

Smartwool

By Ross Brinkman
Contributor: Jonathan Emery (Prof. Material Science, Northwestern University)

Apple Ultra v. Garmin Epix

By Alex Bruns & Elliott Boake
Contributor: Ross Brinkman

Wabi UV-C

By Brett Larson
Contributors: Ross Brinkman & Nisha Palvia (Principal, PERLab)

YSL Rouge Sur Mesure

By Jenn Kroon & Emily Sheng
Contributors: Ross Brinkman & Rich Besen (Head of Innovation, PERLab)

REI Flash 55

By Ben Dibuz
Contributor: Ross Brinkman

HelloFresh

By Ross Brinkman
Contributions: Brielle Weiner, Lori Couto, Ron Sasine (Former Director of Packaging, Walmart)

KitchenAid Mixer

By Ross Brinkman
Contributor: Angie Kurdys (Principal, Kearney)

Nike Pegasus

By Ross Brinkman
Contributor: Alex Gallard

Blueland Cleaning

By Ross Brinkman
Contributor: Bryan Rahning (Sr. Manager, PERLab)

Kettle Air Fried Chips

By Ross Brinkman
Contributors: Brielle Weiner, DBen Dibuz, Kristen Yi

Withings ScanWatch

By Bryan Rahning & Peter Dash

Nintendo Switch

By Ross Brinkman

Ikea Odger Chair

By Ross Brinkman

Experience

Utility Game Lab

  • Founder & CEO (Jan 2025 - Present)

Kearney

  • Manager, Product Lab (Dec 2024 - Jul 2025)
  • Senior Associate, Product Lab (Oct 2022 - Dec 2024)

TEAMS Design

  • Vice President (Jan - Oct 2022)
  • Design Director (Dec 2020 - Jan 2022)
  • Lead Design Manager, Shanghai (March - July 2018)
  • Senior Industrial Designer (Jan 2017 - Dec 2020)
  • Industrial Designer (May 2013 - Jan 2017)

Hasbro

  • Toy Designer (Summer 2012)

Environs Development

  • Architectural Draftsman (Summers 2009 - 2011)
  • Construction Laborer (Summers 2006 - 2009)

Education

University of Chicago

Masters of Business Administration (2018 - 2021)

  • Booth School of Business, Evening Program, Dean's List

  • Concentrations: Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Finance, Strategy

  • Clubs: Studio Booth (Co-Chair), Product Management, Marketing, Running, Dumpling

Purdue University

Bachelor of Arts, Industrial Design (2009 - 2013)

  • Industrial Designer Society of America, Member

  • Men's Water Polo, Captain

  • Women's Water Polo, Coach

Full Resume PDF
LinkedIn