Journals on Design - Electric Cafe Racers with FTN Motion

Journals of Design covers inspiring journeys of New Zealanders who've designed products, created brands & developed new innovations. This series uncovers what joy & divide it can take to create a world-class product or brand, hearing insights first-hand from entrepreneurs & inventors from our coveted New Zealand design industry.

You might encounter a few gems that could lead you towards inventing something of your own.

Around 8 years ago Luke Sinclair & Kendall Bristow came up with an idea which has now raised over $5 million in capital investment.

They design, develop & manufacture electric bikes, inspired by the Cafe Racer archetype - in Hamilton.  Two punchlines, the name is R18 & one of their board members was the CEO of Dyson.

Journals explored:
- How the idea got its wheels 
- Why a simpler design captured an audience 
- Developing a 1st prototype 
- Creating the space to reproduce the bike in NZ 
- Managing costs as the producer & cashflow 
- Special innovations of the bike & expansion 

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DINZ Interviews

When the opportunity arises, DINZ interviews leading designers from here and overseas. These interviews seek to dig beneath the surface to address the common and uncommon challenges, problems and opportunities the design community faces.