I'm looking for an experienced industrial/product designer to design a desktop display stand for metal graded trading card protective cases (PSA-style slabs). The graded cards will be placed in metal, magnetic protective cases. The intent is for embedded magnets in the stand to interact with the metal case providing a stable, aligned, premium, "seated" feel. The case should still be removable easily by hand, and the design should not rely solely on magnetic force to hold the slab upright. The magnetic force should be strong enough to resist accidental bumps, but weak enough to allow for easy removal without lifting the entire stand.
This is a real, manufacturable consumer product, not a concept illustration. The goal is a simple, premium metal stand designed specifically for collectors.
Product Overview
-Desktop stand that holds 4 graded trading card slabs
-Cards sit upright at a slight backward angle (~8–12°)
-Intended for premium desk or shelf display
-Clean, minimal, gallery-style aesthetic
Important clarification:
The graded cards (PSA slabs) will be displayed inside metal, magnetic protective cases.
The stand should be designed so embedded magnets interact with the metal case to help seat and stabilize the slab.
Key Requirements (Non-Negotiable)
- Base material: metal (steel preferred, aluminum acceptable)
- Stand must be heavy and stable
- Magnets embedded in the stand that intentionally interact with the metal magnetic slab cases
- Magnetic force should:
Provide a stable, aligned, premium “seated” feel
Resist accidental bumps or sliding
Still allow easy one-hand removal of the slab
- Design should not rely solely on magnet force to hold slabs upright (geometry + weight still matter)
- Designed primarily for PSA slab dimensions (v1 focus)
- Slabs must insert and remove easily without scratching cases
Deliverables:
-Manufacturable CAD files (STEP format required)
-Basic dimensioned drawings
-Clear explanation of:
Material selection
Magnet strategy (plain English)
Recommended manufacturing method
2–3 photo-real renders created from the final CAD
What I’m NOT Looking For
-Plastic designs
-Overly complex mechanisms
-Concept art without manufacturing intent
-Designs that rely on extremely strong magnets that make removal difficult
Ideal Experience:
-Industrial / product design for physical consumer products
-Experience designing metal products
-Familiarity with magnets in consumer hardware
-Understanding of CNC or sheet-metal fabrication
-Clear communicator who can explain decisions simply
Project Details:
Fixed-price project
Includes concept development and 2–3 reasonable revision rounds
Final deliverables must be files I fully own and can use with any manufacturer
To Apply, Please Include:
- Examples of physical products you’ve designed (especially metal)
- Brief explanation of how you approach manufacturable design
- Confirmation that you deliver STEP CAD files
Budget
Open to proposals
(Fixed price for concept + manufacturable CAD + renders)