We’re very excited to unveil the latest venture started by members of mindsalt – the modulR iPad Case and Accessory System. Debuting at SXSWi this week, the modulR system is a durable, ergonomic case for your iPad that is compatible with modulR accessories, including a wall mount, car mount, stand, strap and more.

modulR iPad kickstand

modulR iPad wallmount

Designer Mike Casto and Mindsalt strategist Josh Beatty are launching the company with help from the rest of team Mindsalt. The idea for modulR  arose from the desire to see the iPad reach its full potential and truly become a “go anywhere, do anything” device.

You can learn more about modulR at www.modulRcase.com.

We want to take a little time today to show you what drives us. Where we find our inspiration. What makes us run. We’ve put together a few short videos for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

at long last, the quonset hut woodshop is fully equiped and making dust. newly added are a 10″ cabinet saw, 12″ mitre saw, 8″jointer, 15″ planer, 18″ bandsaw, heavy duty lathe, drill press, mortiser, spindle sander, drum sander, and dust collection (not to mention all the hand tools i’ve been collecting over the years). thanks to ruby electric for the power,  josh for the lights and brian for the garage door opener.

7 years (plus) of working/learning in ted harlan’s shop and 3 volkswagens later and the dream shop is complete (thanks to the sale of the 56 truck).

and the first job outside of making jigs, lumber storage and other not-so-fun-stuff was to build a scale model for a line of furniture we are trying to get sold into a large national retailer (at their request). it’s a multi-purpose grouping that can convert either from a coffee table to a bench or an end-table to a chair. we’re hopeful they commit to a purchase, but we’re pretty happy that their this interested even if they don’t – there’s lots to learn from the experience, plus we have our first patent. and, most importantly, it’s just plain fun. below are some images of the design process in action along with the miniatures that shipped saturday:

in the same vain, we’re also looking to prototype our prior foray into furniture design – the arcliner series (a foldable, stackable line made from bent wood laminates):

It’s not easy being account manager in any size firm.  It is a delicate balancing act of client approval and expectation management mixed with in-house loyalty and honesty.  In other words, account managers work all day not to tick anyone off.

at long last, the acoustic guitars (and my bass) from the first two harlan guitarworks lutherie classes have been completed (end of last year) and photographed (a special thanks to videobred: jamie, kara, chad and kirk, thanks for the use of the studio; and brian for letting me break his D100). looking back at the last year-and-a-half and the photographs of everyone’s hard work, i’m beiginning to realize the significance of our efforts.

we started shortly after the newport guitar festival almost two years ago. after seeing some of the crazy stuff independent makers were trying (and after a beer or three), ted harlan (www.tedharlan.com) and i came back to the shop in louisville with an amplified entusiasm and few crazy ideas. after extensive designwork, tons of jig-building (my favorite part) and a little trial and error, we got under way.

learning (and tap tuning) every step of the way, we prepared tops and backs; bent sides; cut bracing; kerfed, bound and built the boxes; hand built the necks, bridges and tailpieces; inlayed, detailed and finished everything in clear laquer; strung and tuned them up and – what-do-you-know, they all sound great.

now we have two enthusiastic new classes, a much improved process in place and a new body/neck design. we’re sending files out this week to have very precise plexi-glas pattern parts made in the hopes that we can continue improving the efficiency of the classes and, we’ve been looking at the work of lloyd loar so that we might gain a better grasp of acoustics.

can’t imagine how guitar-building/woodworking relates to graphic design? as far as i’m concerned, they’re identical in every way. they both require an ability to understand complex ideas, to pay attention to detail, to recognize process efficiencies and, most importantly, it requires an innate understanding of the visual language of design. are we there yet? maybe not, but we get a little closer and we improve every day.

my thanks to ted. working in the woodshop has always been good for providing useful knowledge and valuable perspective.