Industrial workshop interior with tools and equipment

Turn Concepts Into Things You Can Touch.

A hands-on school for industrial design, prototyping, and sustainable manufacturing in Detroit.

Explore the Workshop
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Design Is Physical Work

We believe the best designers understand materials by handling them. At Foundry Motion, students spend their first week in the workshop—not at a screen. You'll learn to read grain in hardwood, judge wall thickness in injection-molded parts, and know when a weld is sound by the color of the puddle.

Our approach combines traditional craft knowledge with modern digital fabrication. Every student completes a full product development cycle: research, sketching, CAD, physical prototyping, and small-batch production.

12 Students per cohort
4:1 Student-to-instructor ratio
6 Months full-time
Designer working on physical prototype with calipers and tools
Technical sketch and blueprint on workbench

Four Programs, One Complete Skill Set

Each program builds on the last. Most students complete all four over six months.

01

Industrial Design

Form development, ergonomics, and design history. Learn to sketch fluently and build physical mockups from foam and clay.

6 weeks
02

Product Prototyping

3D printing, CNC routing, laser cutting, and hand fabrication. Translate digital models into testable physical objects.

6 weeks
03

Material Research

Study metals, polymers, ceramics, and sustainable alternatives. Test strength, durability, and environmental impact.

4 weeks
04

Sustainable Manufacturing

Design for disassembly, circular economy principles, and low-volume production techniques. Build a final project for real users.

8 weeks

Product Model Viewer

Explore a student desk lamp project. Toggle exploded view to see component relationships.

Cast aluminum base
Extruded aluminum arm
Steel pin joint
Extruded aluminum arm
Die-cast head with LED module

Task Lamp — Student Project

A fully adjustable task lamp designed for workshop benches. Click components to see material specifications.

Grade 6061-T6
Weight 0.45 kg
Finish Bead-blasted, clear anodized
Source Domestic, 75% recycled content
Grade 303 Stainless
Weight 0.12 kg
Finish Passivated
Source Domestic mill
Grade Lexan 9034
Weight 0.08 kg
Finish Frosted, UV-stabilized
Source Post-industrial recycled

From Sketch to Shelf

The manufacturing timeline for a typical student project—a cast aluminum bottle opener.

1
Week 1

Research & Sketching

User interviews, ergonomic studies, and iterative sketching. Students produce 50+ concepts before selecting a direction.

2
Week 2

3D Modeling

SolidWorks and Fusion 360 CAD development. Tolerance analysis and draft angle verification for casting.

3
Week 3

Pattern Making

CNC machining of master patterns from renshape. Surface finishing and sealing for mold release.

4
Week 4

Sand Casting

Green sand mold preparation, pouring A356 aluminum at 1350°F, shakeout, and initial inspection.

5
Week 5

Post-Processing

Gate removal, belt sanding to 400 grit, glass bead blasting, and protective wax coating.

6
Week 6

User Testing

Hand to 20 users for feedback. Document wear patterns and iterate for next batch.

Student Prototypes

Six projects from our most recent cohort. Each represents a complete design cycle.

Minimalist wooden stool with three legs
Furniture

Tripod Stool

Concept
Portable seating for workshop use
Materials
White oak, brass hardware
Manufacturing
CNC joinery, hand-finished
Challenge
Three-legged stability on uneven floors

Result: 18" height, 250 lb capacity, flat-packs to 2" thick.

Precision caliper tool in aluminum
Tool

Depth Gauge

Concept
Woodworking depth and height reference
Materials
6061 aluminum, steel rule
Manufacturing
Waterjet, hand-fit
Challenge
Zero-clearance cursor movement

Result: ±0.005" accuracy, magnetic base, $12 material cost.

Minimal pendant light with exposed bulb
Lighting

Cone Pendant

Concept
Task lighting for shared work tables
Materials
Spun aluminum, cloth cord
Manufacturing
Metal spinning, powder coat
Challenge
Glare control without diffusers

Result: 45° cutoff angle, 8W LED, 50,000 hr lifespan.

Ceramic pour-over coffee dripper
Houseware

Pour-Over Dripper

Concept
Coffee brewing for single cups
Materials
Stoneware, food-safe glaze
Manufacturing
Slip-cast, kiln-fired to cone 6
Challenge
Consistent flow rate across wall thickness

Result: 3:30 brew time, fits standard filters, dishwasher-safe.

Technical drawing tools and compass
Tool

Marking Gauge

Concept
Scribe parallel lines for joinery
Materials
Brass, cherry, tool steel
Manufacturing
Turned, milled, heat-treated
Challenge
Zero backlash in adjustment screw

Result: 0.001" repeatability, brass wear surfaces.

Minimalist wall-mounted shelf system
Furniture

Bracket Shelf

Concept
Modular storage for small workshops
Materials
Baltic birch, steel bracket
Manufacturing
Laminated, formed, powder coat
Challenge
Tool-free height adjustment

Result: 100 lb per shelf, 2" incremental adjustment.

Project Documentation

Selected work from past cohorts. Click any project to view technical details.

Minimalist clock with exposed mechanism
2024

Wall Clock

Steel, oak movement · 12" diameter

Exposed escapement mechanism visible through glass aperture. Weight-driven with 8-day power reserve. All gears cut in-house using profiled HSS cutters.

Minimalist ceramic vase
2024

Vase Series

Stoneware, ash glaze

Brass desk organizer
2023

Desk Caddy

Brass, cork · 8" × 4"

Wooden hand plane tool
2023

Smoothing Plane

Bronze, walnut, A2 steel

Modular shelving system in workshop
2023

Storage System

Steel tube, plywood · Custom fit

Parametrically designed shelving adapting to any ceiling height. Components flat-pack for shipping. Tool-free assembly using wedge-lock joints.

Visit the Studio

We're located in Detroit's Milwaukee Junction neighborhood, a historic manufacturing district now home to makers, artists, and small-batch manufacturers.

Address 1420 Washington Blvd
Detroit, MI 48226
USA
Hours

Mon–Fri: 8am–6pm
Sat: 10am–4pm

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