NOV 30, 2016

I Spent 3 Years Perfecting A Spinning Phone Stand And It Was Worth It

For the past three years, I have been working to perfect the world's most comfortable, ergonomic and fun phone stands.

In short, it lets you grip, spin (integrated skateboard bearing) and stand your phone. I used to order it from a 3D printer ($12) assemble it with a bearing and adhesive ($5 + a lot of effort) then ship it ($5). Total cost was $20, end user cost was $25 with free shipping. It was popular, but not profitable.

People I had never met were finding and ordering these things though, I had to find a way to make it cheaper.

For the last year I was working with an injection molder in China, finalized a prototype ($200) and it worked perfectly. So I ordered 3D printed models of it in various colors (2 months and $150) for a Kickstarter video. As I casually setup the original prototype as a phone stand for the photoshoot, it snapped.

It is ridiculous, but words cannot describe how painful the sound of that plastic breaking was to me. How could I risk over $30,000 of Kickstarter Backer funds on a mold and process that might not work? I reevaluated the limitations of injection molding and decided to find a way to completely 3D print it.

It sucked. I went through dozens of models, tweaking and reinventing frequently. Each time I ordered (over 40 times, $600+), I would have to wait 2 weeks+ to get the new prototype. Waiting in anticipation, receiving it, seeing it did not work correctly and having to go back to the drawing board and repeat the process over and over again. It absolutely decimated me.

When I received those worthless prototypes in the mail over and over again, I wanted to quit each and every time. I got through it with an intention, a belief that I could make something that improved the lives of others for the better. I had the good fortune of seeing and hearing that my original model did indeed help people and give them joy. I latched onto that. Find your belief, find that thing that gets you excited and amped, stick with your goal until you feel so stoked it scares you. I am so glad I did.

I have this vision of a website with hundreds of different spinning phone stands that people are smiling about and enjoying. Furry ones, spikes ones, stretchy ones, light up ones. Phone stands that make people's lives easier and fun while saving more phone screens from the landfill.

I finally hit a mechanism that worked flawlessly. It clicked down flush with the phone, had the perfect angle for portrait/landscape standing and hugged the hand in all the right ways. Then, to my complete shock, it spun. I was completely smitten. 2 Months and an insane amount of hustle later, Knuckies Series 2 was born. 9 models, 9 colors, all charming. I know you will absolutely love them.

Watch the happy video I made below and order one on knuckies.com. Shapeways.com will 3D print and ship it to you like magic. They cost max $10 and you can get a lifetime supply of adhesives for it from Target or Amazon (links on my website).

Thanks for reading.

Go make stuff,

-Michael

More info: knuckies.com