#BehindtheSelfie with... Harry Ravelomanantsoa

It's all fun and games...

1. Where do you live, work and play?

Ravelomanantsoa: I live in one of most beautiful cities in the world, I work in Woodstock and I play where I live and work.

2. What’s your claim to fame?

Ravelomanantsoa: I always get to pick the wine when at a restaurant. Not sure if that’s always a good thing, but everyone seems to have a good time. I love wine, it’s definitely my next career choice if I can help it.

3. Describe your career so far.

Ravelomanantsoa: The creative industries are where my heart lies. I started in desktop publishing but quickly moved into television production, where I learnt invaluable technical skills that afforded me enough confidence to start my first company. From there I turned to animation with my next startup, which in turn introduced me to the company I was going to work for, for the next seven years: Canadian software developer Toon Boom Animation. This job gave me plenty opportunities to discover the world, more specifically the African continent and the Middle East, which I would probably not have visited otherwise. Finally, my entrepreneurial streak got the better of me and together with my brother we founded Rabbit in early- to mid-2014.

4. Tell us a few of your favourite things.

Ravelomanantsoa: Good things in life are easy to come by if we live in the moment. Very little beats the smell of nature after a storm, a warm shower or the pleasures of good company around a meal and a fine wine. But ever since I became a father, my heart favours nothing more than spending time with my little boy.

5. What do you love about your industry?

Ravelomanantsoa: The diversity and potential brought by 3D printing or digital manufacturing is endless. We never cease to be amazed at the variety of projects our customers bring us. It’s never boring.

6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.

Ravelomanantsoa: Ha ha, nice try! No such thing as hinted at above. But I pretty much start and end my days the same way: 6am wake up, gym or long breakfast (on alternate days), at work by 8:30 to catch up with admin… then I finish anytime between 6:30pm and 7:30pm, on to cooking, relaxing and off to bed by 11pm at the latest.

7. What are the tools of your trade?

Ravelomanantsoa: We mainly work on CAD tools or good old paper and pencils for our concept drawings. Then of course we use a variety of machines such as 3D printers (filament-based, binder jetting, stereolithography or Selective Laser Sintering) and 3D scanners. For finishing we use all sorts of traditional utensils to smooth, cure, clean, paint or glue things.

8. Who is getting it right in your industry?

Ravelomanantsoa: There are very inspiring product development and 3D printing studios in the US and Europe. Locally, we work with various artisans and specialists whom we love and admire.

9. What are the biggest pain points/challenges/areas for improvement?

Ravelomanantsoa: One of the main challenges in our line of work is to educate and inform our clients about the pros and cons of the technology. What they can find in the media about 3D printing for example is often to the detriment of companies like ours, because people very quickly have false conceptions. This can slow down the process of closing a deal or go so far as losing us projects before they even start.

10. What are you working on right now?

Ravelomanantsoa: A very full funnel! Closing deals, putting out fires and making sure we deliver on time at the quality we’ve promised.

11. Tell us some of the buzzwords floating around in your industry at the moment, and some of the catchphrases you utter yourself.

Ravelomanantsoa: Industry 4.0/jobs of the future/internet of things.

12. Where and when do you have your best ideas?

Ravelomanantsoa: As a team we sometimes go out of the office for lunch and a brainstorming session, which seems to do the trick.

13. What’s your secret talent/party trick?

Ravelomanantsoa: Staying at home and having people wonder where I am.

14. Are you a technophobe or a technophile?

Ravelomanantsoa: Definitely a technophile, but I am also a classicist who’s passionate about traditional Asian arts and culture.

15. What would we find if we scrolled through your phone?

Ravelomanantsoa: Endless pics of my son!

16. What advice would you give to newbies hoping to crack into the industry?

Ravelomanantsoa: Expose yourself to as many designers, technology and art as you can. Watch lots and lots of TED Talks!

Simple as that. Click here for more on Ravelomanantsoa, follow Rabbit on Twitter, as well as his personal account.

*Interviewed by Leigh Andrews.