May 1, 2026 • Posted by Design Bay Area
Join us for an exclusive look inside the engines of innovation at the Mighty Studios x Applied Engineering Open Studio. As one of the inaugural events for Design Silicon Valley, we’re opening our doors for a curated walkthrough of our creative space. Enjoy local beer, wine, and light bites while networking with a diverse ecosystem of designers and guest experts. From deep dives into product development to high-energy networking, come celebrate the South Bay’s design scene in a setting that feels less like a meeting and more like a party.
Beer, wine, light bites, music, and guest expert discussions!
Mighty Studios is a senior-led product development firm in Silicon Valley that integrates strategy, design, and engineering to bring complex hardware to market. We specialize in helping entrepreneurs “travel light and fast,” providing an elite team of experts that protects your vision from ideation through large-scale manufacturing.
Applied Engineering, based in San Jose, is a contract manufacturer specializing in advanced electromechanical assemblies and precision manufacturing. The company supports leading OEMs across semiconductor, life sciences, medical device, and clean energy industries, offering services from new product introduction (NPI) through full-scale production. With a focus on quality, scalability, and speed, Applied Engineering helps bring complex products from concept to production.
Mighty Studios Team & Guest Bios:
Tark Abed | Founder & Director
Expertise: Industrial Design, Strategic Product Vision, Full-Lifecycle Development.
- Tark is a seasoned design leader with a career spanning over two decades, including 12 formative years as Creative Director at Speck Design. He founded Mighty Studios to bridge the gap between high-level strategy and technical execution. Drawing inspiration from the “resilient spirit” of skateboarding, failing, adapting, and pushing boundaries, Tark specializes in helping startups and established brands navigate the complexities of IoT, wearables, robotics, MedTech, and much more. He is an expert in bringing products from initial ideation and rapid prototyping through to large-scale manufacturing and market launch.
Jacob Abruzzini | Lead Industrial Designer
Expertise: 3D Visualization, Aesthetic Strategy, Hardware Design.
- Jacob is a core member of the design team, responsible for defining the look, feel, and ergonomics of Mighty’s hardware projects. He has a proven track record of translating complex technical requirements into sleek, minimalist, and user-friendly products. His work at Mighty covers a wide range of categories, from consumer electronics to professional medical devices.
Alberto Massarotto | Lead Mechanical Engineer
Expertise: Mechanical Systems, Injection Molding, DFM (Design for Manufacturing), Complex Assemblies.
- Alberto leads the mechanical engineering efforts at Mighty, ensuring that the studio’s visionary concepts are physically viable and scalable. He specializes in the rigorous technical architecture required for high-performance hardware, working in close harmony with the industrial design team to preserve aesthetic intent while optimizing for durability and production efficiency
Michael Swartz | Product Development and Commercialization Leader
Expertise: Product Strategy, Commercialization, Strategic Growth.
- Michael is a seasoned Silicon Valley product development and commercialization leader with more than 20 years of experience helping companies bring successful products to market across consumer electronics, MedTech, Biotech, industrial systems, mobility, and energy. He operates at the intersection of innovation, engineering, sourcing, manufacturing, and go-to-market execution, helping both global brands and high-growth startups turn complex ideas into market-ready products. With deep experience across the hardware ecosystem, he aligns technical teams, business stakeholders, and external partners to drive successful development programs and long-term commercial growth.
Martin Avalos | Account Executive
Expertise: Strategic Partnerships, Client Relations, Growth Strategy.
- Martin is the primary bridge between Mighty Studios and its ambitious brand partners. He focuses on building long-term, high-trust relationships with founders and enterprise leaders. With a deep understanding of the Silicon Valley hardware ecosystem, he ensures that projects are aligned with client business goals, helping partners “travel light and fast” through the product development lifecycle.
Connor Tran | Sales and Marketing Associate at Applied Engineering
- Connor has spent the past two years supporting growth across advanced manufacturing markets. Based in San Jose, he works closely with customers to align their product needs with Applied Engineering’s full-service manufacturing capabilities. Connor is passionate about building relationships and helping innovative companies successfully scale from prototype to production.
Vanessa Beleno | Project Coordination & Digital Marketing
Expertise: Human-Centered Design, Community-Focused Strategy, Creative Direction.
- Vanessa Beleno is a San José–based digital marketer and visual designer working at the intersection of event production, industrial design, and community storytelling. With over seven years supporting large-scale cultural events, including SJ Jazz, Pow!Wow!SJ, La Ofrenda Festival, and San José Day, she creates experiences that elevate local talent while strengthening creative ecosystems. At Mighty Studios, she brings a systems-driven design approach to her role as Project Coordinator and Digital Marketing Associate, bridging physical and digital experiences and supporting strategic partnerships with South Bay companies.
Tony Brinton | Director of Brand Strategy
Expertise: UX/UI Integration, Strategic Branding, Design Thinking.
- Tony is a strategic design leader with 30 years of experience across brand strategy and development, user experience strategy and design, advertising, creative direction, graphic design, writing, performance-based digital marketing, sales enablement, and design management. He’s passionate about art and design, teaching, storytelling, and humanizing technology. Tony works at the intersection of business, design, and technology to improve quality of life and drive new value for organizations.
Daren Law | Senior Industrial Designer
Expertise: Medical Device Design, 3D Visualization, Hardware Design
- Daren Law is a Senior Industrial Designer at Mighty Studios, specializing in product development from concept through production. With a strong background in medical and life sciences, he brings ideas to life through thoughtful, intentional solutions that add value beyond aesthetics. His work bridges creativity and precision, ensuring products are both visually compelling and meaningful to businesses and end users.