The BrewBell: Kettlebell Bottle Opener

In 2019 I launched a crowdfunding campaign to produce a short run of cast bronze bottle openers, modeled after the iconic kettlebell, that I designed as a student back in 2013. This exercise in branding, crowdfunding and small-scale production was an incredibly valuable learning experience. Some highlights include:

• Taking over a local powerlifting gym to shoot a crowdfunding video with friends.

• Running a successful campaign on IndieGoGo.

• Working with a 100-year-old foundry in the heart of Somerville for small volume production.

• Working with a local photographer to get stellar product shots in exchange for some product design work on his own creative project.

• Teaching myself how to powder coat to get the last few orders out the door in time for the holidays.

• Designing the branding and packaging

The BrewBell Story

I'm an industrial designer, and bringing products from an idea to a reality is my passion, I've worked on medical devices, consumer electronics, home goods and electric vehicles. And I know a thing or two about metal working; I apprenticed as a blacksmith for two years at a living history museum, learning 17th century English methods and techniques.

I'm also passionate about fitness and functional movement training, and I've loved the simplicity and raw functionality of the kettlebell ever since I first started training with them over a decade ago. 

When I was studying design at Mass Art, I didn't have time to take many classes outside the department, but I convinced some folks in the foundry department to let me participate in a bronze pour, as long as I showed up and put in the extra work. I wanted to learn about the process, and when trying to decide what I should cast, One day, working out in my basement, I was inspired by the iconic form of the kettlebell; the handle looked similar to the "church key" style of bottle opener, and so I made a mold and cast my first prototypes in wax, then in bronze.

The result was a huge success; functional, pleasing to use, and a great conversation piece! I got so much interest from friends and family that I made a new mold and had a small sample run cast in bronze at a local foundry in Somerville Massachusetts. The BrewBell was born.