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Kurt P.

Senior Product Designer & Mechanical Engineer | 20 Years Multi-CAD Master

Des Moines, United States

Global rank:

8,269 / 150,843

Skill pts: 10

3D Modeling & CAD Design, FEA Creo Parametric New Product Design New Product Development Sheet Metal Product Design

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About

With over two decades of progressive product development experience, I specialize in transforming ambitious concepts into market-ready realities. As the founder of Tallawah Works LLC, my mission is to provide visionary design and comprehensive engineering services across a diverse spectrum of industries—from Internet of Things (IoT) and biomedical devices to consumer products and heavy equipment.

Visionary & Creative Problem Solving True innovation requires more than just CAD skills; it demands a deep understanding of the customer and the market. My approach is highly creative and data-driven, emphasizing customer discovery, brand strategy, and intellectual property development. Whether pioneering early touchless payment systems, earning multiple design patents (D840803, D843831, D911165), or mentoring startup founders at the ISU Start-up Factory and Drake Business Accelerator, I thrive on pushing boundaries and guiding products to their perfect market fit.

Uncompromising Engineering Competency At the core of my service is rigorous, hands-on engineering. My technical foundation is built on years of R&D and design leadership at companies like Musco, Kreg Tool Company, and Fisher-Emerson. I bring high-level expertise in:

Advanced Modeling & Simulation: Proficiency in SolidWorks, Inventor, Altium ECAD, and finite element analysis (FEA) utilizing ANSYS and SolidWorks Simulation.

Manufacturing Excellence: Deep knowledge of Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), injection mold design, and rapid prototyping.

Quality & Safety Assurance: Implementation of Six Sigma guidelines, adherence to ASME codes, and integration of UL safety standards into electromechanical design.

A Multidisciplinary Skillset The most effective solutions happen at the intersection of different disciplines. My background is uniquely broad, spanning heavy machinery hydraulics, agricultural automation, robotic welding cells, and process control systems. Furthermore, I actively integrate emerging technologies into modern engineering workflows, including developing Large Language Models (LLMs) using Python and the OpenAI API.

I believe the best products are born from collaborative, emotionally intelligent teams driven by efficiency and organization. Whether refining an existing system or engineering a new invention from scratch, I deliver actionable, data-driven results that align perfectly with customer expectations.

Portfolio

Experience

Founder Tallawah Works LLC · Full-time Jul 2016 – Present 10 yrs 3 mos Des Moines, IA, USA As Design Principal at Tallawah Works for over 10 years, I lead end-to-end product development for client innovations across multiple industries.

Key capabilities include:

Concept to Prototype: Full 3D CAD modeling, design optimization, and rapid prototyping.

Manufacturing Management: Overseeing production setups, DFM/DFA compliance, and vendor coordination.

Proven Methodology: Utilizing proprietary, refined engineering techniques to ensure accuracy, safety, and market readiness.

Education

University of Wisconsin - Madison BSME, Mechanical Engineering 2002 – 2005

Other experience

Consumer Product & Packaging CAD Design Many new consumer products fail due to rushed design and skipped market validation. I help inventors and brands mitigate risk by providing a structured development roadmap that keeps projects on schedule and within budget.

-Market-Focused Prototyping: Designing functional prototypes built specifically to gather critical end-user feedback and validate market fit.

-Packaging Integration: Creating CAD models for custom enclosures, structural packaging, and unboxing experiences tailored to modern retail and e-commerce standards.

-Budget-Conscious Execution: Establishing a clear development path early to prevent costly design revisions during production setup.
Prototyping & Fabrication Assistant Comprehensive rapid prototyping and fabrication services tailored to products of all scales and industries.

-Broad Industry Reach: Specialized prototyping for medical devices, consumer products, industrial equipment, and more.

-Versatile Capabilities: Capable of producing prototypes across a wide range of physical sizes, geometries, and materials.

-Functional Testing: Delivering high-precision models designed for fit checks, ergonomic evaluations, and performance testing.
Tool Design -Custom tooling solutions engineered to streamline production, improve accuracy, and ensure repeatable performance.

-Application-Specific Design: Tailoring custom tooling, jigs, and fixtures to meet strict operational requirements.

End-to-End Execution: Guiding tools from 3D CAD design through prototyping, testing, and practical shop-floor implementation.

-Reliability & Consistency: Focus on durability, ergonomics, and repeatability to minimize cycle times and prevent operational errors.
FEA design Over a decade of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) expertise integrated directly into the design process to ensure product safety, durability, and performance.

--Structural & Safety Validation: Simulating real-world stresses, loads, and thermal conditions to guarantee safety compliance prior to tooling.

Data-Driven Optimization: Identifying material excess and high-stress points to optimize part geometry without sacrificing strength.

-Risk & Cost Reduction: Catching structural vulnerabilities early to eliminate expensive design revisions and physical prototype failures.
Design for Additive Manufacturing -Over 10+ years of experience utilizing Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) to turn concepts into high-fidelity physical products.

Production-Ready Design: Engineering 3D-printed parts that closely reflect their final manufactured form.

Strength & Efficiency: Optimizing print orientation and geometry for structural durability while keeping fabrication economical.

-Seamless Scaling: Using rapid prototyping to identify and resolve design flaws early before transitioning to volume production.-
Prototype & Industrial Design Consultant Great design bridges the gap between engineering and visual appeal. I help client products stand out in competitive markets by focusing on:

Form & Aesthetics: Crafting appealing, modern industrial designs that get noticed.

-Function & Ergonomics: Ensuring every feature works as intended for an intuitive user experience.

-Design Verification: Thoroughly validating every detail so your product reaches its full market potential.