455 - Shane Levine

Shane Levine is the Founder of Turbo, a product design studio for startups. The goal is that they become your dedicated partner, committed to your long-term success—not simply a consultant. He has worked with clients like Jeep, Ramp, and Whop.

He previously led design at Rally and StockX.

Twitter (X) → x.com/theShaneLevine

Shane's Workspace Tour

Workspace Items

• LG ultrafine 27in display
• Apple Keyboard and Trackpad
• Lamicall aluminum stand
• MacBook Pro
• AirPods Max
• Autonomous Eureka Standing Desk
• Autonomous Ergonomic Chair
• Ibanez Electric Acoustic guitar
• Tidbyt display
• Lego Porsche
• IKEA BILLY bookshelf
• IKEA Varmblixt lamp
• Chinatown Market Basketball

What is the most recent item that you've added to your workspace?

The most recent addition to the space is the Eames style chair, It's super comfy and looks great too. I'm glad I got a fun color rather than the traditional black leather one.

How do you spark creativity?

Creativity for me is all about inspiration. Here's how I spark it:

Constantly curate.

The best designers consume content that helps and inspires them to create.

Collect content that inspires your taste. It can be screenshots of UI designs, print posters, illustrations, photography, or just vibes.

The key is to expose yourself to content that improves your taste. Every piece of content you consume should inspire you to create other content, products, or experiences.

Make it easy to collect and be exposed to good design.

It doesn't have to be complicated. For instance, I save designs I like either on Pinterest or in a folder on my laptop.

You can also use other apps like Cosmos, Arena, or Savee. The tools don't really matter. Use what works for you.

Build a community of designers.

Surround yourself with other designers whose work you admire. Participate in design communities, attend design events, and talk to other designers online.

Engaging with a community allows you to receive feedback, stay updated with trends, and continuously refine your taste.

I can't stress this enough: your taste is the most important piece of the puzzle in your design career. Luckily, it’s a skill you can craft and improve every day.

What does your typical day look like?

My typical day includes meeting with my team of talented designers, speaking with and sometimes meeting up with clients in NYC or around the world online. A nice lunch with my girlfriend here in Brooklyn then back to work for some deep design work.

What is the most challenging part of starting a product design studio?

The challenging part of running a studio is managing working together with people.

An agency is all about people working together toward a goal. Like a sports team, your players can only perform at their best if their basic needs are met. In the agency world, that means paying your team on time, giving clear feedback, and owning mistakes with clients instead of throwing your team under the bus.

As a founder, everything comes back to you. Build a work environment people want to be part of, and everything else gets easier.

Most of your new clients will come from referrals. So it makes sense to treat client relationships like they’re everything, and act like you’re the American Express of customer service. When something goes wrong, take ownership, fix it, and then overdeliver. Even if it’s technically your employee's fault, it’s still your responsibility. You're the one who hired them!

Always think about how to be a person clients love to work with. Build trust, and new clients will find their way to you.