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Sjoerd Smit
Industrial Design / Hardware Development Specialist
Professional Background
Sjoerd Smit is a highly accomplished professional with extensive experience in product design, spanning both hands-on development and leadership roles in innovative companies. He currently serves as the Principal Product Designer at Handmade, where he is tasked with blending functionality and aesthetics to create outstanding products that resonate with users. Sjoerd's design philosophy is informed by his robust educational background, honed over years of study in top institutions, including the prestigious TU Delft, where he earned a Master of Science in Product Design. His dedication to high-quality design has been evident throughout his career, which features several leadership and pivotal roles within leading organizations in the tech and design sectors.
Sjoerd's previous role as VP of Product - Hardware at Karma WiFi saw him at the forefront of developing solutions that integrated cutting-edge technology with user-centric design, paving the way for advanced internet connectivity solutions. At Karma WiFi, he showcased his ability to lead teams towards the successful realization of ambitious product visions.
Before his tenure at Karma WiFi, Sjoerd excelled as Head of Design at VANMOOF, a company recognized globally for its electric bicycles. His leadership in design not only improved product aesthetics but also significantly enhanced user experience, garnering attention and accolades within the industry. The products developed under his guidance at VANMOOF are renowned for their innovative design and functionality, setting new standards in urban mobility.
In addition to his impactful roles in industry, Sjoerd has also contributed to the academic community as a tutor in design aesthetics at TU Delft. In this capacity, he shared his insights and expertise with the next generation of designers, emphasizing the importance of aesthetic value and user engagement in product design. His previous engagements as a product developer at Het Beta Collectief, NACHTSMID, and Dutchband allowed him to build a diverse portfolio of projects, continually expanding his design skillset and knowledge.
Education and Achievements
Sjoerd Smit's educational credentials are impressive and reflect a long-standing commitment to mastering the field of industrial design. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Industrial Design, a degree earned from TU Delft, which provided him with a firm foundation in the principles of design, engineering, and user experience. Sjoerd further pursued advanced knowledge with a Master of Science in Product Design also from TU Delft, where he deepened his understanding of product lifecycle, user-centered design methods, and innovative engineering practices.
His studies continued at the Technical University of Denmark, where he focused specifically on design. This international exposure helped him to cultivate a global perspective on design challenges, allowing him to incorporate diverse ideas and practices into his work.
Achievements
Throughout his career, Sjoerd has achieved numerous milestones that highlight his expertise and dedication to product design. His role at Handmade stands as a testament to his ability to navigate complex design challenges and deliver exceptional products that resonate with users. At Karma WiFi, his leadership in product development resulted in impactful hardware solutions facilitating better connectivity in households around the globe.
During his period as Head of Design at VANMOOF, Sjoerd played a crucial role in shaping the company's design identity, successfully merging aesthetic appeal with functionality in their products. The innovative solutions developed under his leadership were characterized by a sleek, modern design that captivated consumers and set the brand apart in a competitive industry.
Moreover, Sjoerd's contributions as a tutor at TU Delft help foster the next generation of designers, showcasing his belief in the importance of mentorship in the design process. His diverse work experiences reflect an adaptable skill set tailored to meet the evolving demands of product design, emphasizing collaboration, creativity, and innovation at every step of the design lifecycle.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
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