The Futur with Chris Do

The Art of Everyday Innovation w/ Paul Rowan | Ep 396

26 snips
Nov 8, 2025
Guest
Paul Rowan
Paul Rowan, co-founder of Umbra and designer of the iconic Garbo trash can, dives into the world of creativity and entrepreneurship. He shares how his childhood in a hardware store sparked his design journey and how a simple DIY project transformed into a global brand. The conversation explores the art of turning setbacks into success, the importance of collaboration with design students, and the innovative spirit needed during recessions. Paul also discusses the role of AI in design and the persistent value of human imagination.
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ANECDOTE

Launch From Your Own Need

  • Paul made his first product by decorating roller blinds with Japanese paper and selling them from the back of his car.
  • That early DIY launch led to requests for more housewares and seeded the Umbra brand.
INSIGHT

Hardware Store Schooling

  • Paul credits his hardware-store upbringing with practical product sense and 'applied technology.'
  • He used that exposure to contemporize everyday functional items into affordable design.
ADVICE

Master The Whole Product

  • Learn every hat in your startup: marketing, product, sales, manufacturing, and communication.
  • Know your product end-to-end before delegating as you scale.
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