David Hereid Jr.
Founder, RAD Design & Fabrication
Every Great Idea Starts Somewhere
My name is David Hereid Jr., and I’m the founder of RAD Design & Fabrication in Davenport, Iowa.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that life doesn’t always go according to plan. Sometimes you’re presented with challenges you never expected. Sometimes you have to learn to do things differently. And sometimes those very challenges lead you toward opportunities you might never have considered.
That’s a big part of the story behind RAD Design & Fabrication.
I’ve always believed that when something doesn’t work, when a product doesn’t exist, or when there’s a better way to accomplish something, it’s worth asking a simple question:
“Why can’t we build something that solves that problem?”
That curiosity, combined with my passion for technology and creating things, is what drives this business.
Seeing the World Differently
I’m visually impaired.
That’s part of who I am, but it doesn’t define everything I’m capable of doing.
Living with a visual impairment has given me a different perspective on everyday challenges. Things that seem simple to one person can become complicated when products, environments, or information aren’t designed with accessibility in mind.
I’ve experienced those barriers firsthand.
I’ve also learned that a barrier doesn’t always mean something is impossible. Sometimes it means the existing solution wasn’t designed with everyone in mind.
And that’s where creativity and innovation come into the picture.
I don’t believe people with disabilities should have to sit on the sidelines because something wasn’t designed to accommodate them.
I believe we should be looking for ways to change that.
That’s one of the reasons RAD Design & Fabrication exists.
From an Idea to Something You Can Hold
There’s something special about taking an idea and turning it into a physical object.
Maybe it’s a replacement part that nobody manufactures anymore. Maybe it’s a custom tool that makes a job easier. Maybe it’s a gift with personal meaning.
Or maybe it’s an accessible learning tool that allows someone to experience something they previously couldn’t.
To me, all of those projects matter.
My background includes a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, and I’ve developed a strong interest in digital manufacturing and fabrication technologies.
Through 3D printing, 3D scanning, CNC routing, laser engraving, metal fabrication, woodworking, and powder coating, I’m bringing together different tools and processes to solve practical problems.
I enjoy the process of figuring things out, testing ideas, learning from mistakes, and improving a design until it does what it’s supposed to do.
I don’t expect every project to work perfectly the first time.
That’s part of creating something new.
You design it. You build it. You test it. You learn. And you keep improving.
Why Accessibility Matters So Much to Me
When you’ve personally experienced accessibility barriers, you begin noticing them everywhere.
You notice the products that could have been designed differently.
You notice the educational experiences that rely almost entirely on sight.
You notice how something as simple as a tactile label, a raised feature, or an audio explanation could make a meaningful difference.
Those observations are part of what inspired our mission:
Removing Barriers to Create Experiences.
I want RAD Design & Fabrication to be a place where accessibility is considered from the beginning.
Not every product we manufacture will be an accessibility product. We create custom parts, home and outdoor products, personalized items, and plenty of other things.
But the accessibility mindset is always there.
Because sometimes the difference between being included and being left out is simply whether someone took the time to design a better solution.
Sharing the Natural World With Everyone
Another area that’s especially important to me is conservation and environmental education.
I believe everyone should have opportunities to learn about wildlife, explore ecosystems, understand watersheds, and develop an appreciation for the natural world.
But many traditional educational experiences depend heavily on visual materials.
That’s something I want to help change.
Through RAD Multisensory Learning, we’re developing ideas for tactile models, interactive educational tools, and accessible learning resources that allow people to explore subjects through more than one sense.
Our current work includes developing accessible supplemental resources connected with Fish Iowa, Project WILD, and Project Aquatic WILD.
I’m particularly interested in how tactile watershed models, wildlife representations, audio-supported learning, QR codes, and NFC technology could make conservation education more engaging and inclusive.
I don’t believe that being unable to see something should mean being unable to understand or experience it.
Nature belongs to everyone. So should the opportunity to learn about it.
Building Something Bigger Than a Business
When I think about the future of RAD Design & Fabrication, I don’t just think about how many products we can manufacture or how much equipment we can add.
I think about what those tools can make possible.
I think about the person who needs a replacement part that no longer exists.
The teacher who wants to make a lesson more accessible.
The student who learns something new by touching a model instead of looking at a picture.
The customer who has an idea but doesn’t know how to turn it into something real.
Those are the kinds of opportunities that excite me.
And while RAD Design & Fabrication is a business, I want it to stand for something more than selling products.
I want it to stand for creativity, problem-solving, inclusion, and the belief that good ideas deserve a chance.
One Project at a Time
I’m still learning. I’m still experimenting. And I’m constantly discovering new possibilities.
That’s something I never want to stop doing.
RAD Design & Fabrication will continue to grow, evolve, and explore new technologies, products, and educational opportunities.
Some ideas will work. Others will need to be redesigned. And some will lead us in directions we never expected.
But through all of it, one thing will remain the same.
Our mission: Removing Barriers to Create Experiences.
If you’ve got an idea, a problem that needs solving, or something you’ve always wished somebody would make, I’d love for RAD Design & Fabrication to be part of finding that solution.
Because sometimes all it takes to create something meaningful is the willingness to ask:
“What if we tried?”
David Hereid Jr.
Founder, RAD Design & Fabrication
Design • Fabricate • Create • Empower
