Our Story
The founders met over a decade ago while working for a large enterprise in Silicon Valley. As we individually grew both professionally and personally, we pursued diverse opportunities to create a more positive impact in the world. A few years ago, we came to the realization that we shared a common objective: to support individuals and organizations already engaged and doing great work in communities. We established Trimtab with the aim of serving you, our partners.
Why Trimtab?
A trim tab is a small, moveable surface — a miniature rudder — on the edge of a larger rudder on a ship. A tiny amount of force to move the trim tab will move the larger rudder and turn the ship. Just like a trim tab on a ship, Trimtab uses our expertise to help make a big impact on your team's and organization's success.
“Something hit me very hard once, thinking about what one little man could do. Think of the Queen Elizabeth — the whole ship goes by and then comes the rudder. And there’s a tiny thing at the edge of the rudder called a trim tab. It’s a miniature rudder. Just moving the little trim tab builds a low pressure that pulls the rudder around. Takes almost no effort at all. So I said that the little individual can be a trim tab. Society thinks it’s going right by you, that it’s left you altogether. But if you’re doing dynamic things mentally, the fact is that you can just put your foot out like that and the whole big ship of state is going to go. So I said, ‘Call me Trim Tab.’
The truth is that you get the low pressure to do things, rather than getting on the other side and trying to push the bow of the ship around. And you build that low pressure by getting rid of a little nonsense, getting rid of things that don’t work and aren’t true until you start to get that trim-tab motion. It works every time. That’s the grand strategy you’re going for. So I’m positive that what you do with yourself, just the little things you do yourself, these are the things that count. To be a real trim tab, you’ve got to start with yourself, and soon you’ll feel that low pressure, and suddenly things begin to work in a beautiful way. Of course, they happen only when you’re dealing with really great integrity.”
— Buckminster Fuller
We are a purpose-driven group of experts that share a passion and sense of fulfillment in doing hands-on, meaningful work.
Abbey Ripstra
Abbey is a human centered design researcher, conducting global and local research informing design decisions and strategy for organizations like Cisco Systems, Salesforce and Wikimedia Foundation. Abbey studied design research and strategy at the Institute of Design, IIT in Chicago, Illinois.
Cris Cristina
Cris is a user experience designer and researcher who has helped lead the launch of new products and services for dozens of organizations, including the City of Oakland, Google, Microsoft, Nokia and Virgin Galactic. Cris and his work have been featured in Fast Company, Ars Technica and Time magazine.
Ruben Rohde
Ruben specializes in brand strategy and design, leading teams to create products and services for organizations like Webex, Acano and d.light. Ruben has led teams at boutique design studios, startups, and large enterprises. These teams have designed products and services that millions of people use every day.
Contact us
hello@wearetrimtab.com
San Francisco • Washington, DC