Mardis Bagley is a Creative Director and Industrial Designer based in San Francisco. He creates products that connect user experiences with brand stories. He believes in a design process that creates sustainability through desire. By creating experiences that surprise and delight, he connects with users on a visceral level.
NONFICTION
Creative Director + Founder, 2016 - present
Nonfiction is a creative agency based in San Francisco, specializing in industrial design, branding and strategy. Our areas of expertise include consumer electronics, luxury goods, sports products, home goods, packaging/retail and aerospace. Our goal is to create engaging experiences through the design of fun and sophisticated products.
Nonfiction leverages relationships with engineering (ME, EE, Software) and manufacturing partners to help execute your ideas. We work with corporations, mid-size companies and funded startups from all over the world. We turn ideas into reality – on time and on budget.
CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS (CCA)
Adjunct 1 Professor - Industrial Design, 2018 - present
As an educator, I engage and lead an international body of Industrial Design students through the design process. Students explore problems, identify key insights and build stories that are relatable as well as functional, and appropriate. Rapid ideation and model making help to sculpt their designs while adhering to strong human factors, usability, ergonomics and sustainable manufacturing processes. These skills prepare them for introduction into the working world.
LUNAR
Senior Industrial Designer, Contract, 2016 - present
R2 Dermatology: Designed an innovative, new medical device utilizing cryogenic technology. Extensive user and ergonomic research in both the clinical and consumer environments. Worked closely with other designers and mechanical engineers to distill intuitive and approachable product within the complex regulatory landscape. Iterative sketching, 3D CAD and user testing prototypes guided the form development.
Facebook: Identify and design the new standard for Facebook’s next gen wireless devices. Working in developing countries allowed us the opportunity to reimagine how these devices could look and function. Shepherding FB through the hardware process was one of the key factors in the product’s success.
Corning: Analyze user experience practices around a suite of Corning products. Explored solutions through rapid sketching, and iterative 2D and 3D prototypes. Final design solutions incorporated a family of products that increased usability, efficiency and strengthened brand awareness while garnering another patented device for Corning.
MATTER
Senior Industrial Designer, Contract, 2015-16
Intel Wireless: Designed around Intel’s cutting-edge wireless technology. Deliverables included, strategy, 3D modeling, and rendering for production, as well as managing junior designers. I worked in Korea, alongside model makers and electrical engineers, to develop 75 cosmetic and functional models. Initial SOW included a single product line, but the excitement of the designs led Intel to grow the SOW to include several independent lines.
Logitech Vision Project: Worked closely with Logi to design new conference room cameras and experiences that align with their revised brand – more youthful and exciting. Direct collaborate with UX and visual design teams allowed for a more cohesive user experience.
AMMUNITION
Senior Industrial Designer, Contract, 2015
June - Intelligent Oven: Designed and created inner and outer packaging concepts from ideation to production. Skills included ideation, rapid sketching, 3D modeling, rendering and final presentation.
FELT AUDIO
VP Product Design and Dev. 2011-14
Created an audio brand for Bluetooth speakers and earbuds. Roles included ID, GD, strategy and production management. Additionally, as factory liaison I oversaw five factories and visited Asia 15+ times.
LIFESTYLE DESIGN
Industrial Designer, 2010-11
Worked with the lifestyle oriented consultancy LSD designing soft goods, consumer electronics, packaging, graphics and strategy. Brands included House of Marley, Klipsch, Case Logic, Altec Lansing, and Altego.
ID-ONE
Industrial Designer, 2007-09
Design and rapid ideation/sketching for a wide range of categories including consumer electronics, sporting goods, healthcare, soft goods and lifestyle products. Brands included Dell Computers, Nike Golf, Keys Fitness and Ironman among many others.
INTERACTIVE TOUCH
UXD-IXD Designer, 2011
Designed the user experience and interface for a phone app and website platform that allowed independent authors to create and add interactive features before publishing to their phone app. The interface successfully turned a very complex process into a simple to use web and phone interface.
EDUCATION
University of Houston - B.S. Industrial Design, 2006
University of Illinois - Studied ID, GD and Photography 2005
TECHNICAL
3D Skills
Rhino 3D computer modeling
Solidworks, T-splines, Fusion 360
Keyshot rendering
2D Skills
Graphic design, packaging, retail POS
Photoshop, Illustrator
Sketching/rendering and quick ideation
Brand, Strategy & Research
Brand guidelines, standards.
Product road mapping.
Manufacturing & Materials
Extensive manufacturing, material knowledge in most mass production processes. Familiar with cut and sew processes and soft goods development. Experienced in audio speaker and Bluetooth development. What I don’t know, I’m eager to learn.
• Manufacturing, project and factory liaison
• Construction of product development schedules
• Familiar with control doc, QC and certification requirements
Management
I work well with others, whether alongside a design team or managing multiple contractors. Very adept at factory and vendor management. Familiar with most processes related to creating a brand from production to retail distribution. Versed in Chinese business, and cultural customs, Visited Chinese and Korean manufacturers on multiple occasions.
• Management of small design teams
• Accurate product development scheduling and road mapping
• Able to manage external assets, partners and vendors
PATENTS
• Speaker Mechanism Having A Conforming Circuit Board
• Retractable Ear Bud Assembly Having A Wireless Receiver
• Cartridge For Managing Ear Bud Cables Having A Constant Torque Spring
• Cartridge For Managing Ear Bud Cables Having Annular Audio Contacts
• Ear Bud Retraction Module Having Optimal Microphone Placement
• Protective Case Having Retractable Earbuds
• Cartridge For Managing Ear Bud Cables
• Cartridge For Managing Ear Buds
• Protective Case Having Retractable Earbuds
• Case For Holding Ear Buds
• Case For An Audio Device
ETCETERA
I love to travel, socialize, engage with people. I put my extra energy to use snowboarding, mountain biking, working on classic motorcycles and exploring the culinary world. I’ve built 3 houses with Habitat for Humanity, and there’s always a project in my garage. Currently I’m creating lightweight concrete furniture and restoring a 1975 Honda CB550. In my spare time I’m studying French.