Inside the Workshop: How Fabrication Fuels Our Experiential Design

At Pulse Studio, we believe that great experiential design doesn't stop at the concept phase—it must be grounded in a deep understanding of how things are made. That's why our design team recently took a field trip to ACME Design Inc. in Elgin, IL, a facility renowned for its expertise in fabrication and prototyping.

Learning from the Best

We were thrilled to be welcomed by Clint Borucki and the talented team at ACME, who generously opened their doors and shared their knowledge. As experiential designers, it's essential for us to see how ideas become reality, and ACME’s team of artisans gave us an invaluable behind-the-scenes look at that process.

During the tour, we explored a variety of fabrication techniques critical to the work we do—including:

• Rapid prototyping for fast and efficient model development

• Castings to replicate intricate details and textures

• 3D scanning and printing to bridge digital design with physical production

• Prop making for immersive environments and trade show installations

Strengthening the Design-Fabrication Pipeline

Seeing these processes firsthand helped our designers better understand the physical considerations behind our concepts. It’s one thing to visualize a design on a screen—it’s another to understand how materials, time, and tools shape that vision into a finished product. This knowledge is essential for crafting experiences that are both creatively compelling and technically feasible.

A Special Thanks

We’re incredibly grateful to Clint Borucki and Elizabeth Haney for hosting us and sharing their time and expertise. Collaborations like this strengthen our ability to deliver innovative, high-quality experiences for our clients.

Looking Forward

At Pulse Studio, we’re committed to continuous learning and collaboration. This visit was a perfect reminder that design is a team sport—one that benefits immensely from the talents and knowledge of expert fabricators like those at ACME.

Stay tuned for more insights as we continue exploring the intersections of creativity, technology, and craftsmanship.