Sprout Studios is excited to welcome Colin Hansel as Head of Industrial Design. With extensive experience spanning industrial design, product development, and product strategy, Colin brings a valuable perspective on the intersection of design, business, and manufacturing. His ability to connect creative thinking with the practical realities of bringing products to market will play an important role in the continued growth of Sprout’s industrial design practice.
Colin has worked across a wide range of industries and product categories, including sporting goods, consumer products, outdoor equipment, and emerging technologies. His experience spans leading in-house teams, consulting, and advising, and includes work with brands such as Trek Bicycle, Peloton, Black Diamond, and Carhartt. A lifelong athlete with a passion for performance, he has developed products alongside professional cycling teams and world-class athletes, directing projects across footwear, helmets, climbing equipment, and connected fitness. From early-stage concepts through engineering, manufacturing, and production, Colin brings an understanding of what it takes to turn ambitious ideas into products that perform in the real world.
Colin’s interest in shaping products beyond the design process led him to explore product management, where he gained a deeper understanding of the business decisions that influence what gets made, from market opportunities and customer needs to pricing and manufacturing constraints. The experience broadened his perspective on product development and reinforced his belief that designers should be involved much earlier in the process, helping define the problems worth solving rather than simply executing against an established brief.
“For me, it’s about doing progressive work that’s actually making an impact and creating products we’re genuinely proud of,” Colin said. “That starts with understanding the problem, the business, and the people we’re designing for. I want to help build a practice that takes on interesting challenges and pushes beyond what’s already being done.”
Bringing that vision to Sprout means continuing to evolve how we approach product development. Colin is focused on three priorities: deepening our expertise in materials and emerging technologies, strengthening collaboration across industrial design, engineering, and our manufacturing partners, and building new capabilities that keep pace with AI’s rapid evolution in design. It’s a big undertaking, but his commitment to the craft and his attention to detail are already showing real results.
“We want to build a practice that isn’t limited by categories or conventional approaches, but instead brings together the right talent to solve meaningful problems,” said Jordan Nollman, Founder and CEO of Sprout Studios. “Colin brings the experience and perspective to help us bring that vision to life, challenge ourselves creatively, and evolve the ways we work with our clients.”
Please join us in welcoming Colin to the Sprout Studios team. We’re excited to have him on board and look forward to what’s ahead.
