Project Overview

Whether you’re navigating the concrete pathways of the urban landscape or getting lost off the beaten track, live life untangled with The Cord Roll – a simple way to keep earphones, charging cables and all of life’s necessities safe and organised in one easy to find spot.

Organisation

Afternoons with Albert

Team

We have one in our team - me :)

Project Brief

“It was never going to be a good look falling over in front of the 300 people I had just flown from LA to Sydney. As I reached into my flight bag to grab my earphones, the little white pods that bring so much joy to my ears had managed to tie themselves around my US Dollars, my Australian Dollars, a set of earplugs, my car keys and a pen. All I wanted was my earphones … but as all the above flew out of my bag in one large, congealed mess, and onto the ground in front of me, I tripped over myself … and thought … there MUST be a better way!”

FED UP with his mobile-charging cable and earphones getting tangled every time he travelled with them, QANTAS International pilot Shane Thompson unleashed his inner Tom Ford and, using his sewing machine, stitched up the first Cord Roll – a wallet-like roll-up pouch – to keep his cables under control.
18 months & one incredibly successful crowdfunding campaign later, The Cord Roll’s popularity continues to grow as it becomes the mainstay of “every day carry” for urban commuters and global travellers alike.

Project Innovation/Need

Absolute authenticity in design:

“Flying requires a LOT of discipline. Things are always changing and there are always new policies and checklists to learn. Time management is critical for me – it always has been, which is why i’m so drawn to things that are intuitive, efficient, and improve my daily life. So designing something in this space was incredibly natural for me.”

Simplicity was the critical design rule and The Cord Roll’s highest virtue during development. The relationship between the form of the Roll and the leather puts to use that physical principle that as a pilot I am usually happy to do away with - friction. This seamless interplay complements both aspects, culminating in a design that does its job in an effortless, selfless manner.

The logical, intuitive nature of its form also cuts through language barriers - a nod to the trueness of a design that combats a global frustration head on, replete with style.

Design Challenge

Notwithstanding the obvious lack of any formal design qualification, the main design challenge was to authentically deliver the Cord Roll’s promise – to solve a global frustration through attention to form and function, avoiding the design verbosity commonly found in lazy, thoughtless design.

The Cord Roll is designed to include as few points of failure as possible. It has a very natural flow of use and, owing to the upholstery-grade thread and points of hand-stitching, a generational lifetime can be expected.
Leather was chosen as it ages beautifully and tells a story. For a travel accessory this was ideal. It also addressed the requirement to be minimal in nature, removing the need for hemming as leather does not fray. Finally, it is extremely durable, which addressed the important requirements of integrity and longevity.

Sustainability

By creating something that prevents tangling, we have reduced the incidence of ‘frustration’ injuries on headphones and charging cables; impacting the world by prolonging the useful lives of these items.
By making something from a material that is famous for its storytelling abilities, we encourage The Cord Roll to be passed on, passed around and passed down - eschewing common, throw away, short term plastic solutions.