Michael Gamstetter

Michael Gamstetter

Costa Mesa, CA

boxcomponents.com

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About

Currently, I am seeking new employment opportunities.

Over the past two years, I have been working on a variety of freelance projects, including graphic design, product design, package design, copy writing and marketing consulting.

Previously, I was product manager at Airborne Bicycles (while also covering brand management and marketing duties—I was a one-man show for the brand.). My job entailed developing an entirely new line of bikes, including road, cyclocross and mountain using off-the-shelf frames and components. Limited budgets and resources made the job challenging, but I believe the bikes I designed and spec'd are a vast improvement over Airborne bikes in the past. My goal was to boost the brand image of Airborne, allowing us to increase retail prices and boost margins. In most cases, margins went from a low of around 15% to as high as 42%. The bikes were scheduled to hit the warehouse Nov. 2017 with more available in Spring 2018.

Prior to Airborne, I designed a range of bicycle components for Cycle Group, Inc. (CGI) and its Box Components and Promax brands. I designed, lead the design of, or collaborated on the design bicycle components, as well as did graphic design, brand management and product management, working with factories in Asia to ensure all products are produced in a timely manner and to our specifications.

I graduated with honors from Art Institute of California, Orange County. I also have a Bachelors Degree in Fine Art. Art and design have been my main interest for as long as I can remember. As a journalist covering the technology-intensive bicycle industry, I wrote about all aspects of manufacturing, design, product development, materials and more. I visited more than 50 factories worldwide and have a strong understanding of manufacturing processes and materials.
Education
- BS Industrial Design Industrial Design
  
  The Art Institute of California-Orange County
  
  2005 - 2008
  
  Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design, June 2008 The Art Institute of California-Orange County, Santa Ana, California Graduated with Honors, President and Treasurer of AIC-OC IDSA Club Bachelor of Fine Arts, July 1989 Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio Dean's List
Experience
- Freelance Industrial Designer
  
  Various
  
  Costa Mesa, CA
  
  Aug 2017 - 2019 (1 year 6 months)
  
  Freelance industrial designer for a variety of companies in the fitness and bicycle industries.
- Product Manager/Brand Manager
  
  Safe Haven Brands
  
  Aug 2016 - Sep 2017 (1 year 1 month)
  
  As product manager, I designed, developed and spec’d the Airborne 2018 bikes line, working with various manufacturers and assemblers in Taiwan and China. Successfully increased profit margins for the consumer-direct bicycle brand.
  
  As Brand/Marketing Manager for both Airborne and DK Bikes, I worked toward the goal of boosting Airborne’s image and profit margins, leveraging race team successes, improved product design and deeper product range. I worked with BMX and mountain bike athletes worldwide and attended BMX and mountain bike race and consumer events.
- Senior Product Designer/Senior Brand Manager/Marketing Manager
  
  Cycle Group Inc.
  
  Anaheim, CA
  
  Dec 2011 - Sep 2015 (3 years 9 months)
  
  Product Design: Design, oversee the design of or collaborate on the design of more than 100 new, BMX and mountain bike components for the BOX and Promax brands. Both BMX lines were immediate successes internationally.
  • BMX sales were more than $2.3 million in the first year after product delivery began.
  • Design process includes immersion into the BMX scene, market research, initial concepts, sketching, 2D drawing, 3D rendering, prototyping and product management, as well as logo, package and catalog design.
  • Work with Taiwan, China and U.S.-based factories to bring products to market.
  
  Brand Manager: Introduced a new esthetic to the BMX market through product design, logos, advertising and packaging, all of which resonated immediately with a notoriously conservative and fickle consumer base.
  • Successfully introduced and positioned BOX as a high-end, high-margin aspirational brand while simultaneously re-introducing and positioning Promax as a high-quality, high-value brand.
  • Select amateur and professional riders and teams for sponsorship, including Olympic medalists and World and National Champions. Worked with and supported International Distributors at race events.
  
  Marketing Manager: Successfully take care of more than 100 amateur and professional BMX racers.
  • Manage event sponsorships, including the number plate sponsorship of the GSX/UCI Supercross World Cup Series. Manage media buys, catalog production, trade show and event marketing, media relations, press releases, dealer communications, social media, etc.
- Marketing Manager
  
  VSI, Inc.
  
  Cerritos, CA
  
  Jun 2009 - Dec 2011 (2 years 6 months)
  
  • Responsible for all marketing duties associated with eight bicycle-related brands (Intense BMX, Speed Bicycles, Sinz/Sinz Elite, THE, ITS, EYE BMX, AVE and Vigor) such as team, rider and event sponsorships, copy writing, media buys, catalog production, trade show and event marketing, product development, market research, media relations, press releases, dealer communications, social media, etc.
  • Designed new products, soft goods, advertisements, product graphics and frame paint schemes.
- Design Intern
  
  3D Industries
  
  Lake Forest, CA
  
  Jan 2009 - Apr 2009 (3 months)
  
  • Designed apparel and soft goods as well as packaging and graphics.
- Junior Industrial Designer
  
  Nova Lamps
  
  Huntington Park, CA
  
  Nov 2008 - Dec 2008 (1 month)
  
  • Working with a small design team, developed lighting designs and furniture concepts.
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2018 Airborne Bike Line

2018 Airborne Bike Line from Michael Gamstetter

2018 Airborne Bike Line

I put together the 2018 Airborne bike line from soup to nuts, handling everything from finding and selecting new factories, vendors and assemblers to parts spec, graphic design, color selection, etc. Budgets were such that I was limited to off-the-shelf frames and components. But I believe I spec'd the best Airborne line in a long, long time, if not since the beginning of the brand. The bikes also allowed us to increase price points and boost margins.

Sample (prototype) builds of the Thrush aluminum and carbon bikes.

Sample (prototype) build of the Harrier carbon road bike.

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2018 Airborne Bike Line

I put together the 2018 Airborne bike line from soup to nuts, handling everything from finding and selecting new factories, vendors and assemblers to parts spec, graphic design, color selection, etc. Budgets were such that I was limited to off-the-shelf frames and components. But I believe I spec'd the best Airborne line in a long, long time, if not since the beginning of the brand. The bikes also allowed us to increase price points and boost margins.

Comments (1)

Juan Pablo Crovari

Really great work!!! Congrats!

a year ago

Juan Pablo Crovari

Really great work!!! Congrats!

a year ago

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Freelance, Full-time

Michael Gamstetter

Michael Gamstetter Costa Mesa, CA