Isaac Franklin, founder of RIB productions, shares his unconventional journey from animatronics and puppetry to healthcare simulation innovation. With a background in special effects, Isaac’s team leverages 3D printing, AI, and unconventional design strategies to develop affordable and highly realistic simulation tools. By connecting designers directly with end-users and using rapid prototyping, RIB productions accelerates innovation while maintaining product quality. The article explores Isaac’s creative approach, the challenges of industry regulation, and his vision for improving healthcare education through collaborative innovation.
In the latest episode of Between 2 Simulators, Isaac Franklin, founder of RIB productions, shared his unconventional path from animatronics, puppetry, and ice sculpting to designing some of the most innovative and affordable simulation tools for healthcare education.
In an engaging conversation with host Jake Rahman, Isaac recounted his journey, his bold approach to product design, and how his company’s use of 3D printing, AI, and unconventional team dynamics is reshaping healthcare simulation. His story is one of creativity, resilience, and a passion for making impactful change.
From Puppets to Patient Simulators: A Creative Beginning
Isaac’s journey into healthcare simulation is far from traditional. With roots in a family of makers, Isaac was surrounded by creativity from an early age — his father was a stonemason, and his mother was a painter and printmaker.
After leaving school, Isaac’s career took an unexpected turn when he became a puppeteer, working with a company that specialized in animatronics for stage performances.
“I was 18, and suddenly I was touring the world with these incredible life-sized puppets — dinosaurs, polar bears, and other technical creations,” Isaac recalled.
This early experience, where he worked with intricate mechanisms and lifelike designs, would later prove essential in his shift toward healthcare simulation.
A Shift Toward Healthcare Simulation
Following university studies in special effects for stage and screen, Isaac found himself exploring different creative industries. After stints in film, theatre, and even a brief run as an ice sculptor, Isaac’s career took another unexpected twist.
A chance opportunity arose when Isaac was asked to build body parts for a crime scene investigation training scenario. This project sparked his interest in medical simulation, and as the pandemic shifted priorities, Isaac chose to focus entirely on healthcare simulation development — and RIB productions was born.
“Simulation became our main focus, and we’ve never looked back,” Isaac shared.
Building a Team of Creative Thinkers
One of the most unique aspects of RIB productions is its unconventional approach to staffing. Rather than hiring people from medical simulation backgrounds, Isaac deliberately recruits individuals with diverse creative skills.
His design team includes:
- An architect who transitioned from building design to product design.
- A toy designer with experience in playful yet functional designs.
- A skateboard designer who previously worked on products for Tony Hawk’s brand.
- A miniature figurine sculptor who brings detailed anatomical expertise.
“I don’t want my designers to be tied to traditional thinking,” Isaac explained. “By bringing in creative minds from different backgrounds, we push boundaries and explore unique solutions.”
This unconventional strategy allows the team to approach medical simulation challenges with fresh perspectives — turning traditional design methods on their head.
Cutting Out the Noise: Connecting Designers with Customers
A key aspect of RIB productions process is removing the typical disconnect between designers, sales teams, and end users.
“We put our designers directly in front of the customers,” Isaac emphasized. “This eliminates the Chinese whispers effect where information gets distorted as it moves between teams.”
By giving designers firsthand exposure to real-world needs, RIB productions ensures their products align directly with user expectations.
“We’ve already gained incredible insights just from having our designers talk directly to the people using the products,” Isaac added. “Those insights are being implemented immediately into our next designs.”
Speeding Up Innovation with 3D Printing
One of RIB productions most groundbreaking approaches is its heavy reliance on 3D printing.
“3D printing has transformed the way we develop products,” Isaac explained. “We have the largest print farm in our county, which allows us to create custom parts in-house and iterate rapidly.”
Instead of relying on traditional manufacturing methods like injection molding, RIB productions designs and prints mannequin parts, task trainers, and prototypes directly in their workshop. This method drastically reduces development time and costs.
“I can produce a new mannequin design overnight, test it the next day, and revise it again within 48 hours,” Isaac said. “That speed of iteration is key to staying innovative.”
By maintaining full control of production, RIB productions has also bypassed expensive outsourcing costs, allowing them to deliver highly realistic, affordable simulation tools.
AI-Powered Simulators and Adaptive Learning
Beyond manufacturing innovations, RIB productions is integrating AI into both its design process and simulator functions.
Their proprietary AI-driven software enables them to generate mannequin designs from 3D scans, automatically producing molds, internal components, and structural elements.
“Our AI can generate a fully modeled mannequin — from skeleton to skin — at the push of a button,” Isaac explained.
But the role of AI doesn’t stop there. Isaac’s team is also developing AI-driven conversational mannequins capable of simulating patient interactions. These advanced tools provide realistic dialogue scenarios for students practicing communication skills, diagnostic questioning, and empathy training.
“We’re also working on integrating AI into performance analytics,” Isaac shared. “Instead of relying on anecdotal feedback, AI can deliver precise insights on learners’ actions, responses, and decision-making.”
Balancing Innovation and Industry Standards
Despite RIB productions cutting-edge innovations, Isaac acknowledges the challenge of working in a largely unregulated industry.
“Healthcare simulation is still like the Wild West,” Isaac observed. “There’s little regulation, which means innovation moves fast, but quality can vary widely.”
While some advocate for tighter standards, Isaac warns that excessive regulation could stifle innovation and disadvantage smaller innovators.
“The industry is evolving rapidly, and smaller companies like ours are driving that change. Over-regulating could kill that momentum,” he cautioned.
A Future Fueled by Innovation and Collaboration
Isaac’s ultimate goal is to push healthcare simulation forward by maintaining a spirit of collaboration.
“We want to work with everyone — from small startups to large corporations,” he emphasized. “Our mission is to improve patient outcomes by giving educators better tools. Whether you’re a medical professional, a developer, or an innovator, we want to hear your ideas.”
Looking ahead, RIB productions is set to launch six new mannequins and 20 new task trainers in the coming year, further expanding their influence in the healthcare simulation industry.
Conclusion: Disrupting Healthcare Simulation with Bold Ideas
Isaac Franklin’s journey — from puppets and ice sculptures to healthcare innovation — is a testament to the power of creativity, adaptability, and fearless innovation.
Through his company RIB productions, Isaac is challenging traditional design methods, cutting through inefficiencies, and empowering his team to think differently. By blending 3D printing, AI, and hands-on collaboration, he’s shaping a future where healthcare simulation tools are not only more affordable and realistic, but also faster to develop and better aligned with educational needs.
As Isaac puts it:
“Innovation isn’t about following the rules — it’s about finding new ways to solve problems.”
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