Derek Kyle Fassett
Founder / Product Development
I started WTF to fix the things that should work better—so people can work, live, and enjoy life a little easier. The company is built around direct problem-solving, plain-English product intent, controlled disclosure, real customer feedback, and manufacturer-native handoffs.
We are not presenting ourselves as a fabrication shop, licensed engineering firm, or mass manufacturer. Qualified outside professionals handle regulated engineering, physical build, testing, compliance and production work when a project reaches those gates.
WTF design principles
- Easy use + easy setup
- Durability and serviceability
- Replaceable wear parts
- Middle-market value
- Base product must already be good
- Evidence before confidence
- Controlled IP disclosure
- Partner-native design
The WTF method.
Start with the failure, not the gadget. Understand the job, attack assumptions, develop the simplest strong architecture, then try to break it before somebody else does.
Find the failure
Repeated complaints, wasted effort, safety issues, poor serviceability and bad value are all signals.
Develop the fix
Every meaningful component has to justify its existence.
Triple-Converge
Independent WTF passes must converge three times before paper design is treated as internally stable.
Move to evidence
Customer demand, IP review, engineering, supplier quotes and physical tests control the next gate.
Built to run from home without limiting the work.
WTF is intentionally structured so research, product direction, validation, IP coordination, documentation, partner communication and commercialization can be managed remotely. Physical engineering and build work moves to qualified partners—not the founder to the factory—unless Derek deliberately approves an in-person need later.
Research, architecture, visuals, requirements, customer validation, change control, commercialization strategy.
CAD detail, analysis, fabrication, prototypes, certifications, testing, sourcing, manufacturing.
Evidence, test reports, photos/video, samples, costs and failure data drive the next decision.