About this project
Introducing a new kind of accessory
Fonhandle is inspired by hafting, the act of attaching artifacts to a handle which turns them into useful objects. Humans have used this method throughout history to turn rock, metal and bone into axes and hammers, then later on – simple lenses into magnifying glasses, and then – rubber nets into fly swatters. Now it is time to do the same with the most useful object of all – the smartphone.
Fonhandle enhances your mobile experience. It opens a world of new photographic and videographic opportunities, better ergonomics, easier web browsing and other uses that have yet been discovered.
Black and White – Sleek & Opaque, the Glossy Black and GlossyWhite models are made of top quality acrylic material.
Clear and Pink – A translucent line made of tinted, transparent acrylic.
Lime - A Kickstarter limited edition made of transparent yellow-green acrylic.
Wood - Machine milled from cherry wood block, hand finished and lacquer coated.
Currently all models are made for iPhone 5/5S.
In its natural habitat, fonhandle is a multi-useful tool – allowing steady motion capturing, better angles for those hard-to-take selfies, an even better web browsing experience and hands-free video conferencing on the beach while keeping the device neat and clean*.
* Note: Pesky sand may still find its way in your phone – be vigilant!
The design process included more than 32 prototypes, 51 CNC hours, 26 3D model files, 441 emails and countless iterations of sketching and refining. Fonhandle was modeled and tested in a variety of modeling technologies, like laser cutting in wood and acrylic, stereolithography (by Objet machines and by service of Shapeways), 3D printing by Makerbot and CNC milling in final materials. All this was done to achieve optimal proportions, to verify the design, and to check functionality under real world conditions. Fonhandle is currently patent pending.
With over seven years of experience as an industrial designer and product manager in various projects, fonhandle is my debut product. I believe that it's up to us, creators and backers, to imagine and realize original products and challenging projects – fonhandle being my own contribution to this effort.
Risks and challenges
Serving as a product manager in several companies, I have experienced all aspects of production, from setting up a production line to quality assurance and shipping. Several challenges are up ahead that require special attention:
Production:
Mold preparation is the most time consuming process, and will be a big challenge in terms of keeping up to schedule. The mold is simple: it has two slide cores (for the connectors and on/off button) and for its high-end finish requires an almost optical-grade polish. I have met and consulted with mold makers and plastic injection professionals on this subject to better prepare for this step. Furthermore, most of the design for production is already completed along with price quotations and a timeline for manufacturing. In short, we are ready to go.
Shipping:
My goal is to be able to ship the highest quality product that can be made during the time frame that has been set for shipping. I have allowed more than enough time for the manufacturing process to go as smoothly as possible. However, in the event of delays, backers will be notified of any changes to the shipping schedule.
Thank you for taking your time to read. You are welcome to voice any questions and thoughts by contacting me by contacting me using the contact link in the sidebar. Yonatan.
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Funding period
- (59 days)