
Would you rather risk burning up on reentry, or never leave the ground?
EDGE design
Origin
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Industrial Design
Automotive Design
Spatial Computing
AI Workflows
Human Factors Engineering
Human Centered Design (HCD)
Ergonomics
Tooling-Ready CAD
CMF (Color, Material, Finish) Design
Concept Development
Photorealistic 3D Rendering
Problem Solving
Practical Engineering
Design for Manufacturing (DFM)
Rapid Prototyping
Fabricating
Generative Design
3D Printing
3D Scanning
Project Management
Sketching
Agile Methodologies
360° Immersive Presentations
Design Research & Insights
Vendor Reachout
Systems Design
Reverse Engineering
Team Leading
VR Experiences
Photorealistic Animations
Marketing Ideation
UX/UI Ideation
Interactive Product Simulations
Innovation Consulting
Packaging Design
Environmental Sustainability Design
Design Strategy & Positioning
Technical Illustration
Project Scope Management
Early Brand Identity Development
Feasibility Studies
Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI)
EDGE_design exists to enable ambitious early-stage startups through pragmatic problem-solving, cross-disciplinary design practices, and efficient iterative prototyping.
In 2020 I launched Rienks Motor Design, LLC (now EDGE_design) to get through college. I envisioned a bustling design studio with 3D printers and fab equipment, high-powered computers, sketching areas and moodboards, and some sharp people by my side.
My foundation was not built upon college degrees, but lucrative blue-collar apprenticeships and hands-on experiences, that a college education later augmented. Because of my skillset, I was able to focus on delivering 90% solutions for 10% the cost and time - exactly what most ambitious early-stage startups need.
Now in 2025, after leading the design team for LEO Flight's flying cars, collaborating on amazing projects with Salaff Automotive, tackling exciting projects like portable nuclear products, and patents pending at my startup Kove Cutlery, this website is turning into something much more personal. No longer for presenting my aspirations to the world as a business, but for expressing my individuality as a designer. What was once meant to be a freelance business for getting through college is now becoming a larger part of my life.
The Future of Design Requires a Swiss Army Knife Mentality
While some pursue deep specialization, mastering a single field, my approach has always been different, stemming from my far-out projects and experimentation as a kid. I have found that moderately specializing across disciplines creates a better ability to problem solve, manage both the big-picture ideas and intricate details of a project, and to better understand and appreciate the work needed to accomplish a goal.
This Swiss Army Knife approach also improves the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, synthesize more effective questions and ideas, and rapidly iterate solutions—particularly valuable in today's fast-paced, ambitious companies. The future of design demands critical thinking, adaptability, and a hands-on approach; precisely the kind of thinking nurtured through cross-disciplinary, practical experiences rather than mere conceptualization or outsourcing.
From AI to the ever-evolving set of tools and capabilities available to the modern designer, sitting back and relying on a single specialty is no longer an effective option.
Shane Rienks
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Before founding EDGE_design, I had the privilege of working with and learning from some remarkable individuals and companies – many who were true masters in their respective fields.
I was lucky enough to find people who saw my passion for building and designing, allowing me to learn and work with them for a number of years, before I set foot in design school at 22.
Prior to entering the world of design, my foundation was primarily in fabricating for the high-end custom automotive industry – legacy sheet metal shaping and fabrication, carbon fiber production, and prototyping. Largely resulting from these hands-on skills, now at 26 years old, I have 8 years of professional experience working on multi-million-dollar automotive and high-stakes projects – from conceptual design to 3D modeling, fabricating, marketing, project managing, and more.
Built upon these skills, I'm devoted to pursuing advanced design and problem solving across as many industries as I can get my hands into.
Let's work together on something epic.

Pull-Max metal forming - a custom firewall for a '56 Chevy, using an MDF and steel patten.
@ZRodz and Customs

Huge-scale 3D printing on a BigRep One
@Fiber Forged Composites