Designer Help Please

B

Braja69

Joined
May 4, 2015
Messages
108
What's up guys. Sorry if this is the wrong spot to post. I am a bit desperate though. I am an out of work digital, conceptual, designer. I have designed a lot of things but never professionally. I have always loved knives and design so I recently married the two and feel like this is what I am supposed to be doing with my life. Anyway, I need help. I have recently been on an internet rampage trying to partner with someone or some company to get my foot in the door of doing what I love for a living. I have been trying to get people to look at a recent knife design of mine. But most people won't even look at the pics I guess for fear of being sued?

I know it's a hard field to break into just like any kind of digital design, but that doesn't help me any. So I have just been contacting one after the other knifemakers by email to try and get something, anything going. I have no skill in actually making knives myself, nor the money to try and do so.

I guess I would just like any advice anybody can give.

Thanks.
 
I can tell you that making a living as a knife maker is on the high side of difficult, if not impossible for most. I would guess even more so as only a designer. I'd say that most of the "collab" knives/designs that the larger companies are picking up (Boker, Benchmade, Spyderco, Kershaw, etc...) are from already well established makers who were already making a livable wage to begin with, and have established a hard earned name. Companies collaborate with these individuals because they know the designs will sell, based on the success of the maker/designer already.

That said, if you have designs that are truly unique or innovative, you never know who you might impress.

I'm not trying to discourage you right off the bat, or tell you not to pursue anything, you should just be aware that you're starting out on a fairly difficult road.

If you want an honest critique of your design, you can feel free to send me a PM. My opinion may not be worth $.02, but as a maker and a user, it might be worth a little.
 
Post em up, lets see em! :) You'll likely get some quick answers as to whether or not your designs are first rate
 
The-Adder-531625676

The-Adder-left-side-view-531626846

The-Adder-right-side-view-531627591

The-Adder-closed-531628081


Here are the pics of my knife design. It's designed to be a flipper pocket knife. I realise it may be a bit too thick for some, but it's what I wanted in a knife. I'm not against it being a fixed blade either, you wouldn't even have to change the design in any way, but I think it can be done as a folder.

The concept is that the sides or scales of the handle swivel on the same pivot used for the blade to reveal a compartment on one side for a small diamond sharpening stone, and on the other, are fire and magnesium rods. The side are held shut by the cylindrical dual pocket catcher, pocket clip that snaps on the end.

I made it with slight hints of a snake, like the dual pocket catchers resembling fangs. And the watery scale handles.
 
Okay I don't know what's wrong but my pics don't seem to be showing. Anyway, this link goes to my art page on deviant art and my designs are all right there.

http://braja69.deviantart.com/

They are the last four pics posted there. The knife is called The Adder.
 
No nice way to say this, you didnt invent the tanto. All that is is a tanto knife with an uncomfortable looking handles. handles should be curved, they couture to and fill the hand. I really dont mean to be offensive but you just made a worse designed tanto griptillian.
 
Okay I figured out how to get the pics to show now. Sorry I'm doin this on mah phone. Now you see why all straight lines? Storage for pocket sharpener, fire and magnesium rods. No you can say my knife is ugly hellspawn. Everybody is different.
 
Frankly, it is not practical for someone who makes or uses knives. Perhaps a high art maker would like the look, but he can design and build his own. To be honest, it is too angular and the tip would be sticking out the end when closed. You have not dealt with the locking mecahnis, attachment of all the decorative elements, or how the frame will be constructed to accommodate the too large blade.

Suggestions and Comments:

1) Knife design has to be based on practical use, or it is just a fantasy knife. The drawings shown are pretty much that.

2) Secondly, the design has to be practical to build. Yours can't be built as drawn.

3) With no knowledge of knifemaking, you have about zero chance of designing a good knife....and even less of selling the design to a manufacturer. Look at the people who get their designs made by the manufacturers. .....Ken onion, for example. He makes knives, so he knows how to design one for someone else to make.

4) The design shown has the same relationship to knifemaking as Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's cars had to Ford and Chevy manufacturing. Totally "over the top", but unbuildable.
 
This illustrates the difference between being a designer and being a stylist. Not necessarily a bad thing, but certainly not the same thing.

If you're serious about this I would recommend making and seriously using before going too far down the rabbit hole.

Be careful when asking for input, not to disregard that input.
 
Please fill out your profile with location, age and other info so we can better assist you.
 
Braja69 said:
What's up guys. Sorry if this is the wrong spot to post. I am a bit desperate though. I am an out of work digital, conceptual, designer. I have designed a lot of things but never professionally. I have always loved knives and design so I recently married the two and feel like this is what I am supposed to be doing with my life. Anyway, I need help. I have recently been on an internet rampage trying to partner with someone or some company to get my foot in the door of doing what I love for a living. I have been trying to get people to look at a recent knife design of mine. But most people won't even look at the pics I guess for fear of being sued?

I know it's a hard field to break into just like any kind of digital design, but that doesn't help me any. So I have just been contacting one after the other knifemakers by email to try and get something, anything going. I have no skill in actually making knives myself, nor the money to try and do so.

I guess I would just like any advice anybody can give.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Where are you located? In GA we have a guild.

I really think your knife is nifty. Kinda a Barry Wood kinda mechanism. I think you should jump in and get your feet wet making knives. Thats how you figure out practicality. Its also how you learn what to do for and how to approach the marketplace.
 
I can see what the current comments are saying, however, not all knives need to be fully functional, look at art knives. All knives als0 do not need to look like ones already made, there is a lot of room for new thinking in design and function. There was another maker, http://brousblades.com/ ,who was ridiculed a lot (on another forum) because his designs were out of the box. I think he is doing quite well.

There is a practical side to your design that needs some help, more work on how everything would fit and be manufactured could result in something pretty nice. Can you do exploded views of the parts to show how it would be assembled. Nice art work
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top