40 Under 40: Fergus Brady
Product Design Engineer; Scanstrut; With company: 4 Years | In industry: 4 Years
Fergus sees every practical RV utility connection as an opportunity to enhance design.
During his four years as a product design engineer at Scanstrut, Fergus has helped the company redefine exterior RV utility products through its Ventura and Roam Series. His goal is to create products that perform their jobs reliably and contribute to the appearance, usability and overall quality of an RV.
That approach has helped produce a portfolio of approximately 25 SKUs across the Ventura and Roam series and covering multiple exterior utility applications for RVs, campervans and overland vehicles.
Fergus works where several disciplines meet — design, engineering, manufacturing, OEM requirements and the end-user experience. Bringing those perspectives together has helped Scanstrut develop a consistent design language rather than treating each exterior connection as an unrelated component.
The market response has been significant. Numerous RV OEMs and dealers have adopted Ventura and Roam products.
Independent design organizations have taken notice as well. Products Fergus helped develop have received a Red Dot Award for Product Design, an iF Design Award and a European Innovation Award.
“Together these metrics show impact across three different product areas: product, development, market adoption and commercial performance, with independent design awards providing additional validation of the quality and innovation behind the work,” Fergus’ nominator says.
Fergus’ work demonstrates a larger point about product development in the RV market. “He has helped prove that design can be a genuine differentiator in the RV component market,” his nominator says.
That distinction is important, as RV manufacturers and consumers expect more from products that historically were viewed as purely functional. Exterior components still need to be durable, reliable and straightforward to install, but manufacturers are also seeking products that complement a modern RV’s overall design. The Ventura and Roam Series address those demands as coordinated product families.
Fergus’ efforts have helped Scanstrut expand and strengthen relationships within the RV industry. The products have gained traction with a broad range of OEMs and dealers, demonstrating the company’s investment in design and product development is solving a genuine market need.
“Most significantly, the new product program has delivered the highest new product turnover in the company’s history,” his nominator says. “That commercial performance demonstrates that Fergus’ design and engineering contribution has translated directly into market success.”
Fergus’ interest in design and machines continues when his workday ends. He is a hobbyist van upfitter and owner of vintage motorcycles and Land Rover Defenders. These interests give him another perspective on the vehicles and equipment people use for travel and adventure.
That combination of professional engineering and personal enthusiasm makes Fergus part of a new generation of RV product designers who view components through several lenses at once.
Fergus’ advice for up-and-coming leaders in the RV industry:
Stay curious and get close to the people actually using the products you design or sell. Some of the best ideas come from seeing how something works in the real world and, more importantly, seeing where it doesn’t. I’ve always found that getting hands-on, asking questions and being willing to challenge the obvious solution leads to better products. Don’t be afraid to make things, test them, break them and start again. Good design is rarely about having the perfect answer the first time; it’s about being willing to keep improving.
What it means to Fergus to be a 40 Under 40 honoree:
It’s a real honor, particularly because the RV industry is full of people who are passionate about making travel and adventure better. To be recognized alongside people who are helping shape the future of the industry is incredibly rewarding. For me, it also reflects how quickly the RV and van sector is evolving. The products we’re designing today are supporting a much more connected, capable and adventurous generation of travelers, and it’s exciting to be part of that change.
