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.