Hello Bernhard! Happy to have you with me today, could you let our readers know who you are?
I’m Bernhard Neuwirth, Product Designer at PATCHBOX. My background is in industrial and mechanical design – from CAD to quality engineering – and I’ve always had a passion for turning complex technical problems into simple, usable products. Before PATCHBOX, I worked across product development, prototyping, and design research in Europe.
What does a typical day in the life of a Product Designer at PATCHBOX look like?
Coffee, CAD, cables, repeat – with a few spring tests in between.
How do you approach designing for something as technical as PATCHBOX?
By pretending it’s simple… until it actually is.
What’s something most people misunderstand about product design?
That it’s only about looks. In reality, it’s about making things easy to use.
If you weren’t a Product Designer, what would you be doing instead?
Probably repairing all the things that were badly designed.
If you had to describe design at PATCHBOX in just one word, what would it be and why?
It would be “Unstoppable”, because even the springs keep coming back.
Are there any designers or design philosophies that have shaped your thinking?
Bauhaus and Apple: simple at first glance, secretly complicated underneath.
What’s your favorite PATCHBOX product from a design perspective and why?
The cassette – it’s basically a yo-yo for network engineers.
If you could design a dream PATCHBOX product without limits, what would it be?
A self-installing cable system… so I could finally take a day off.
What’s something totally unrelated to design that you’re passionate about?
Cooking – lamb shanks are my specialty (no CAD drawings required).
How do you unwind after a full day of pixels and prototypes?
Chasing my son Casper – the ultimate crash-test dummy.
What’s the most memorable trip you’ve taken?
South Korea – futuristic cities, traditional markets, and design inspiration on every corner.
What’s a random skill or fun fact about you that your coworkers might not know?
I can turn almost any kitchen into a prototype lab.
