S6E39 Sam Holland | Informal Engineering Collective, the Hardware Handbook, & Donut Hole-Der

Being an Engineer

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Sam Holland is a mechanical and product design engineer whose journey threads through influential design labs and breakthrough products—from MakerBot’s pioneering 3D printers to livestream hardware at Vimeo, and now forging his own path through Informal.cc. At MakerBot, he served as Technical Lead on the Method 3D printer and spearheaded subsystems for the Replicator Z18, work that included patent‑winning innovations in gantry mechanics and extruder design. His move to Livestream and Vimeo saw him shaping products like Mevo Plus and Studio One, integrating sleek form and functionality for the live‑streaming era.

In late 2018, Sam co‑founded Informal.cc in Brooklyn—a freelance collective dedicated to helping startups design, manufacture, and market hardware effectively. There, he blends expertise in CAD (OnShape, SolidWorks), design for manufacturing and assembly, vendor sourcing, and team staffing. Under his leadership, Informal has also launched the Informal Hardware Handbook, a community‑driven guide that chronicles best practices across ideation, manufacturing, and go‑to‑market strategy—rooted in real‑world experience navigating constraints like chip shortages and shifting product timelines.

Beyond the drafting table, Sam brings products to life—some have reached audiences through QVC, CVS, Best Buy, and even Shark Tank. He couples doing with teaching, from presenting hands‑on hardware workshops at schools like Rock Point in Vermont to authoring product teardowns and insights on Informal’s blog—most recently a teardown of a SimpliSafe Keypad and a love letter to OnShape as his “ride‑or‑die” CAD tool. Outside of engineering, he balances his design drive with drumming, cooking, and Vermont explorations.

Here’s a conversation with Sam Holland, where we’ll dive into accelerating hardware careers, cracking the design‑to‑manufacturing code, and even that hilarious “Donut Hole‑Der” open letter to Dunkin’—because sometimes even frameworks for product engineering aren’t spared a sense of humor.

LINKS:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samholland-engineering/

Click here to learn more about simulation solutions from Simutech Group.

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About Being An Engineer

The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community.

The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us

فصول

1. Sam Holland's Background and Early Interest in Engineering (00:00:00)

2. Transition to Freelancing and Founding Informal (00:07:06)

3. Informal's Business Model and Client Benefits (00:11:23)

4. The Informal Hardware Handbook and Its Impact (00:18:51)

5. Sam's Passion Project: The Donut Holder (00:24:51)

6. Sam's Approach to Staying Inspired and Educated (00:51:07)

7. Tools and Automations Used by Informal (00:52:19)

8. Final Thoughts and Contact Information (00:53:45)