Tinker Studio helps make products people love.
Think. Synthesize business problems, available technology & a genuine understanding of user needs into a clearly articulated creative approach.
Design. Whether it's a whiteboard, a sketch, or a wireframe, the goal is to explore many different ways to to approach a problem before settling on a solution.
Make. The sooner you can get something (sketch, design, prototype, working application) in front of users, the sooner you'll know how to make it better.
Repeat. I'm a firm believer that the first answer is never the best; it's paramount to approach every stage of each endeavor as an iterative process.
* Every challenge is different. While there's a lot I can do, it's wise to call in experts in some fields. My 12+ years with NYC start-ups and agencies has given me a network of superstar creative professionals that can tackle any project. Seriously, they're like the A-team.
About

Like many today, though I grew up in an analog era, my entire professional life has been spent thinking about, designing and building digital products. Entire industries are being redesigned on the fly -- whether they like it or not. As a designer who can help define and shape these massive changes, I'm incredibly grateful. This is exactly why I do what I do and couldn't imagine doing anything else.

Since 1998, I've had the opportunity to work on a variety of products and platforms in vastly different creative environments - from co-founding my own startup, dodgeball.com (sold to Google in 2005) to leading a team of 14 amazing designers at a large digital agency. I've worked closely with a variety of startups and clients including Target, foursquare, Panasonic, HBO, Nokia, freshdirect, Vevo, Verizon Wireless and CBS. These vastly different experiences have shaped my view of what Tinker can be:

  • I strongly believe that the energy and necessary efficiency that drives startups can help evolve the creative consulting model to be what it needs to be going forward.
  • I partner with companies large and small to drive experience vision and product development in a way that takes advantage of the technology available to us today and accounts for a new generation of people that are inherently mobile and social.

This approach to creative product development is the spirit that drives Tinker Studio.

If all this jives with how you see the world, and you'd like to work together, get in touch at hello@tinkerstudio.com.

Tinker is led by alex rainert, who's happily based in Brooklyn, NY.

I regularly write about innovation in design at everydayux.com (grab the feed). Check out some of the recent posts below on the left. More frequently you can find me on Twitter (follow @arainert). It's the best way to get a good sense of how I see design and the role it plays in today's world of product development.

...from everydayUX.com
  • Coffee break for Jan 1st – Jan 5th

    Eric Stromberg — How to Make an Impact During the First Month of Your Startup JobGREAT list right here. The Discreet Shift to Twitter | Monday Note"It now seems Facebook’s usage is undergoing a split. Active Facebookers become increasingly engaged, spend more time doing more stuff, while “reasonable” users (above 25) become more reluctant and [...]

     continue reading bulletbullet

  • Coffee break for Dec 30th – Dec 31st

    14 Of The Year’s Best Ideas In Interface Design | Co.DesignLots to get inspired by on this list. 10 things we learned about Apple this year – SplatFGreat list from Dan. Get a Recipe Every Time You Check-In at a Grocery StoreNeat! Snake Oil? The scientific evidence for health supplementsExcellent, informativem infographic. How to Curb [...]

     continue reading bulletbullet

  • Coffee break for Dec 9th – Dec 23rd

    Foursquare + Square = Killer Small Business Social CRM « I’m Not Actually a Geek"There is no CRM for offline small businesses" < great quote. Voulez-vous check-in avec moi ce soir? || faberNovelRealtime social heatmap of New York, Paris and London, using foursquare check-ins. Clear Indications That It’s Time To Redesign – Smashing UX Design"While [...]

     continue reading bulletbullet

  • Coffee break for Nov 27th – Dec 9th

    Twitter for iPhone: A history – Jeremy StanleyGreat historical walkthrough the evolution of Twitter on iPhone. Gimmicks and Patterns in Interface Design | The Intercom Blog Redesigning Gesture Icons – A Proposed System — Some Random DudeAwesome set of icons to use when communicating gestural interfaces. Gifts for User Experience Geeks 2011 | Blog | [...]

     continue reading bulletbullet

  • Coffee break for Nov 27th – Nov 27th

    li { padding-bottom: 0.5em; } The Social Graph is Neither (Pinboard Blog) You Don’t Have to Tweet to Twitter « abovethecrowd.comReally smart post. Here’s The Information Facebook Gathers On You As You Browse The WebWee! The RunKeeper Roadmap: Building A Successful Startup Through Community and DataLove the team at RunKeeper and really excited about how [...]

     continue reading bulletbullet

...from Twitter
Get in touch

If you've got a project that you think might be a good fit, you can reach me the following ways:

email me at alex@tinkerstudio.com

call me at 718-208-3320

follow me on Twitter (@arainert)

stalk me on LinkedIn