multifarious designer + parallel entrepreneur
David Alan Foster
Short bio: I work in idea, product and business design and development. Trained in many design disciplines -- graphics, packaging, publications, typography, environments, and industrial/product design -- I've been at the forefront of many digital and other breakthrough industries. Currently consulting to a number of startups, I love disruptive design/products/systems, alternative education, cross-industry collaboration, open-source design, 3D printing and renewables. I'm a designer, educator, inventor, strategist, writer, consultant, mentor, generalist, technologist, futurist/visionary, social entrepreneur, calligrapher and poet. More Detailed Story: I'm a designer by nature... It's my passion. Been at it since the 1970's when I started freelancing in graphic design and worked in the first digital typography company. After 8 years in the USAF, I broadened my design portfolio in technical illustration and technical writing, publications design, package design and calligraphy. Published Invent! Magazine from 1988 to 1992, helped start the first international inventors trade show, the first Mac-based digital design studio and managed publications for the first company to do real-time motion color 3D graphics. Was in the first wave of web page designers and first to offer in-house support services for an industrial design firm. I've also worked for venture capital consultants and investment bankers, helped grow some product licensing services, information services, marketing services, limousine services and an environmental company that innovated a closed-loop waste-to-energy system. My nonprofit work started with FACET (Foundation for Advanced Curriculum and Education Technology), the first group to demonstrate linked schools over the Internet. In 2001 (a place odyssey) I moved from Southern California to Northern to continue training in industrial design, and still work in that field, having designed thousands of products for hundreds of clients. I've worked and/or consulted for an environmental products company, an education startup, a plastics company, a couple of solar companies, an app dev company and a limousine company that went from boutique to a global transportation company. Continuing my nonprofit work, Designfluence was initiated in 2004, and by 2007 had a calling to facilitate access to affordable products for the "Other 90%" or Bottom of the Pyramid. In April of 2013 I started my own consulting business — StartSup — specializing in connecting and supporting people with ideas and resources... helping people check off their to-do lists and get stuff done. In August 2016, I attended [again] the Maker Faire in San Mateo, California. It's the Greatest Show on Earth without circus acts... although there are a lot of clowns there. Conversations there inspired me to take a new look at publishing a [digital] magazine for inventors... I call them "interdependent inventors." You can see where I'm going with this idea at nvntr.com. |
my business cards
I've been known to carry one or more business cards around because I'm involved in so many projects and attached to so many organizations. I'm working on a personal card that just identifies me as a generalist.
Click on the card above to see my history and experience represented by the cards I've carried. "David, what do you do?"That question always stumps me! Here's an attempted answer: I do [or have done]...
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a network of networks
You've tapped into a network of networks... the friends, colleagues and trusted partners I've built relationships with over my career(s)... people who can provide what you need, who can help move your ideas into reality, who can connect you with the resources you are looking for.
As partners commit to a mutually beneficial business relationship, some will show up in this section, others will be listed in our Preferrals™ section.
As partners commit to a mutually beneficial business relationship, some will show up in this section, others will be listed in our Preferrals™ section.