TRMNL E-Paper Companion
Role: Contract Industrial Designer. Launched Q4 2024. Purchase at trmnl.com
TRMNL began as a vision for a distraction-free, E-paper dashboard. While the software was built on an open-source ethos, the hardware needed to reflect that same transparency. I developed the founder's initial vision from early-stage prototypes to a market-ready consumer electronic device.
TRMNL began as a vision for a distraction-free, E-paper dashboard. While the software was built on an open-source ethos, the hardware needed to reflect that same transparency. I developed the founder's initial vision from early-stage prototypes to a market-ready consumer electronic device.
Most consumer electronics are designed to be sealed shut and inaccessible to the user. For TRMNL, the goal was the opposite. We wanted the hardware to be as hackable as the software. The challenge was designing an enclosure that felt premium and secure for the average user, yet remained completely accessible for the maker community.
I developed a custom enclosure system that prioritizes user agency:
- I designed a side-tab mechanism that allows users to "pop" the internals out using a small tool included with every unit. No hidden screws, no destructive prying.
- The internal architecture was engineered for an almost tool-free assembly process (the only screws hold the PCB in place), simplifying both the initial manufacturing run and any future user-led hardware modifications.
- To elevate the "grassroots" nature of the project, I integrated a custom chrome kickstand. This provides a high-end contrast to the minimalist housing, ensuring the device looks at home on a professional desk while remaining functional.
Quick thumbnail sketches and paper models helped narrow down the design of the kickstand, which we then prototyped through 3D printing.
I managed the transition to mass manufacturing by working side-by-side with the EE to ensure the mechanical housing and PCB layout were perfectly optimized, and then going through DFM with the manufacturer to refine part geometry for tooling.
I worked with the founder and a lead electrical engineer to take TRMNL from a grassroots Kickstarter idea to a mass-manufactured ecosystem that has now shipped over 200,000 units globally.
I worked with the founder and a lead electrical engineer to take TRMNL from a grassroots Kickstarter idea to a mass-manufactured ecosystem that has now shipped over 200,000 units globally.
