Tag: design

Rapid Prototyping: Adjustable iPad Holder and Charger

This is an iPad 2/3 holder and charge that can be adjusted for optimal viewing angles. I designed and engineered the project in C4D, which is a great blend of tools for modeling and visualization. All that is required is an off-the-shelf Apple charging cable and a FFF printer. There are five parts: a primary adjustment dial (which also serves as the drive), a worm gear that connects to the dial and actually makes the adjustments, the cover, base, and a cable guide. The cable guide helps the design aesthetically by bringing in the second color but it also allows the user to change the type of cable (Apple now has two) based on the type of iPad they use.

Future versions will include channels for the original iPad, as well as the iPad mini, and iPhones. The finished project can be found on Thingiverse, or by clicking here!

This holder and charger is an original design.
This holder and charger is an original design.
A quick snapshot of the finished, fully adjustable iPad holder and charger
A quick snapshot of the finished, fully adjustable iPad holder and charger

 

Interactive Name Plates

There is so much rapid prototyping technology readily available that sometimes it’s overwhelming how quickly we can alter “traditional” products. Here’s a project I recently completed that puts a new light on name plates. It’s a fully customizable name plate. Users can customized the color of the plate itself and the name. It’s also interactive. It has two modes of operation. The first mode is a fully lit mode. Makes the name plate light up, backlighting the name. The second mode is interactive. It automatically turns the backlighting on depending upon the light level of the room, and dynamically adjusts to its surroundings. It is a completely original design, including the circuit. The chips were custom designed and milled for this project. Most iterations took less than a day to turn out a prototype. You can buy these little guys here, at Etsy, in the Checkerlabs Store.

The name plate dynamically reacts to the lighting conditions it is in.
The name plate dynamically reacts to the lighting conditions it is in.
The front of the name plate is fully customizable.
The front of the name plate is fully customizable.
A close up of the custom name, in the "off" mode.
A close up of the custom name, in the “off” mode.
The mode switch and photo "sensor."
The mode switch and photo “sensor.”
An example of the internal armature.
An example of the internal armature.

Reinventing Invitations

Invitations haven’t changed much in the past seventy years. Our challenge was to reinvent the traditional invitation and I led our team through a communication adventure.
The Future of Inviting™ by Checkerboard, Ltd. is a cross-media product line that combines the impact of physical communication with the convenience of digital services. Our current design combines address management, a feature to help you find your addresses, RSVP management, and guest management.
This was launched in April through Checkerboard, Ltd.’s national and international dealer channel and became the most popular purchase at its tradeshow launch in three years of attendance by the company.

EasyInvite.com is the engine behind the Future of Inviting™.
EasyInvite.com is the engine behind the Future of Inviting™.