Design, Failure & Second Skin | Aryaman Jacob on the Real Life of a Founder

Today on Founders Mindset Unfiltered, we sit down with Aryaman Jacob, design consultant and creator of the wearable tech project Second Skin.Aryaman opens up about inclusive design, the messy realities of the design process, why AI can’t replace human creativity, and the emotional rollercoaster of showing clients work they didn’t love.We also talk about the truth behind entrepreneurship, the challenges of being “your own boss,” and why he’s building tech to reduce pain for blue-collar workers.A candid conversation about creativity, resilience, and designing for real people.🎧 Real stories. Real lessons. Unfiltered.Follow Aryaman Jacob:Website: https://design-kind.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aryamanjacob/Follow us on Socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersmindsetunfiltered/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jaATPGyltz7WTFOB6LyWF?si=b05c54cbf6184cbbTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foundermindsetpodcast00:00 – AI, Design and Job Security00:32 – How Users React to Prototypes01:00 – Entrepreneurship Misconceptions01:27 – Introducing the Second Skin Project02:09 – Podcast Introduction and Guest Bio03:19 – Origin Story of Designkind04:29 – What Inclusive Design Means05:17 – Physical vs Digital Design Challenges06:10 – Hardest Projects and Problem-Solving07:09 – What an Interaction Designer Actually Does09:12 – Research, Ethics and Accessibility in Design10:04 – AI in the Design Workflow12:32 – Using AI in Research and Synthetic Users14:05 – Full Design Process: Research to Launch17:15 – User Testing Surprises and Feedback Loops19:22 – Emotional Detachment From Your Product20:20 – Why Aryaman Chose Entrepreneurship23:28 – Best and Worst Parts of Being an Entrepreneur26:23 – Past Startup Experience: Designer Sharet29:01 – Returning to Employment After a Startup31:03 – Deep Dive Into Second Skin33:35 – Real-World Insights: Pain, Weather and Injuries34:51 – Academic Backing and Conference Paper35:27 – How the Idea of Second Skin Started37:38 – Market Opportunity for Wearable Tech38:32 – Will Second Skin Be Affordable?40:00 – Why Big Tech Overcharges42:25 – How the Sleeve Works: Sensors, Heating, Cooling45:51 – Medical Backing and Physiotherapy Input46:50 – B2B vs B2C Strategy48:14 – Funding Second Skin49:04 – What Happens If Funding Fails51:44 – Risks That Could Kill Second Skin52:50 – Future Versions (Lower Limbs, Full Body Wearables)54:40 – How Designkind Works With Clients57:01 – Handling Bad Patches and Burnout59:10 – Maintaining Work–Life Balance01:00:09 – Aryaman’s 2-Minute Pitch01:01:46 – Aryaman’s Pain Points and Call for Support01:04:14 – How to Contact Designkind01:05:10 – Closing Message and Podcast Updates