Necessity is the mother of invention.

We’ve heard that term a lot in the last few weeks as companies around the world shift their focus from standard product lines to something – anything – that will help during the COVID-19 crisis.

It’s hard to find a more dramatic example of this sort of pivot than InkSmith.

A little over two weeks ago, they were an edtech company working with teachers around the globe to keep students engaged. Today, they’re a personal protection equipment (PPE) company shipping tens of thousands of face shields across Canada. In the process, they developed a design, galvanized a community of makers to pitch in and announced the hiring of 100 new employees to help them meet demand.

How did it all come together? Here’s a 9-day breakdown of InkSmith’s ultimate pivot:

Day 1: How do we help?

On a Friday in late March, InkSmith started the day as an education programming company. They had nine employees listed on their website and none of them worked in health, safety or manufacturing. They ended the day with a tweet saying that – in response to messages about 3D printed solutions for combating COVID-19 – they’d found something that’s scalable.

Day 2: A Prototype and a Call-to-Action

Within 24 hours – before 1pm the next day! – InkSmith had posted the news that they’d built a prototype mask and tested it for ease-of-use, rigidity and durability. They also noted that they were seeking approval from Canadian doctors, released a video showing how they’re sewing head straps, took part in an interview with CTV, began experimenting with a laser cut (rather than 3D print) design and put out a call-to-action for local makers: please help us print PPE parts! They posted the design file on their website for makers to use.

We're making an URGENT call to any 3D printer owners in Waterloo Region! If you have a 3D printer and can help us print headband pieces for our PPE face shields it would be greatly appreciated! ➡️DETAILS & FILE HERE: https://t.co/mZ1qFiEuWy pic.twitter.com/VeOjiR0wPE — InkSmith (@InkSmith3D) March 21, 2020

Day 3: The Community Steps Up

Did the community hear their call? The first messages of support – with videos showing home-based 3D printing in progress – appeared within a couple of hours. Within 24 hours, tons of messages started appearing from makers and community organizations that had leapt into action and were producing PPE parts as quickly as their 3D printers would go. The response was so substantial that InkSmith had to create a video FAQ for makers looking to help. They also announced that the laser cut version of their face shield was almost ready for full-scale production – it would reduce manufacturing time from hours to minutes for each shield – and Health Canada certification was pending.

Day 4: Health Canada Certification!

A day later, company announced that they had received Health Canada approval for their design, which meant that with a few retrofits their space would be ready for mass production. They also noted that within the last 24 hours they’d received the parts necessary for hundreds of additional face shields from local makers.

Day 5: The Parts Start Pouring In