It was interesting to see that Cam picked up on Speck's attention to detail as this is a fact that shown through when we interviewed Bryan Hynecek the VP of Design at Speck.

Cam mentioned that "the power and lock cover and the areas for the volume buttons are the best that he's ever used."

Fine praise indeed and the statement that "[the buttons] make a difference to every day use" perfectly echoes the design principles and goals of Speck.

How many times have you grabbed your headphones to go for a run and had to spend ten minutes untangling them from your smartphone charger? Or needed a specific cable, only to confront a knot of unidentifiable cables and chargers? It’s a scenario familiar to most gadget lovers.

After all, you probably have gadgets galore - You’ve got gadgets galore - tablets, laptops, smartphones, cameras - all designed to make your life easier and more dynamic. But they all have one flaw - trailing cables that can get tangled, lost and chewed by adventurous pets.

Luckily for Covers and Cases customers, Recoil Cord Management Systems have come up with the perfect solution. Recoil, a design agency based ut in Utah, USA, make you a promise - you’ll never fight tangled cords again. And Covers and Cases is proud to announce we’re one of the few UK stockists of these nifty gadgets. They come in three sizes - Small Winder, Medium Winder and Large Winder, depending on your cable needs.

The inspiration behind the brand

We spoke to David Alden, designer and inventor of the Recoil Winder to find out how he went from a bright idea to a beautifully realised end product.

Was there a moment that inspired you to invent and design the Recoil Winder?

DA: The idea for came to me one day while working on a cord winder for my own use. I was modifying some old fly fishing reels, trying to make a winder that would tidy up the charging cables from my kitchen counter, and quickly realised I could add a spring to automate it. From there I knew that I potentially had a product people might be willing to buy.

How did you come up with the final design - how many iterations did you go through?

DA: We had 112 iterations… really! The mechanics of this simple little device turned out to be far more complex than I expected, and it took a lot of experimentation to really get it right. So many people comment on the simplicity of the Recoil design, but achieving that simplicity was difficult - and kept the 3D printer working overtime for more than a year!

How long did it take you from having the idea to actually getting a product out there?

DA: Too long… two years!

How did you fund the development and design process?

DA: We ran a very successful Kickstarter campaign, raising almost $150,000, and the remainder (a lot) we funded personally.

It's a stylish product - how important were aesthetics to you when you designed it?

DA: The aesthetics were fundamental to the goals I had set for the product. I developed dozens of Winder shapes using radical and unusual shapes,forms and colours which is the direction I initially wanted to take. After prototyping a few of these highly stylised designs, it became clear that I needed something far more subtle - a form that did not try and be more than it was, which is 'just' a cord winder and not an art project. I gave the current shape the working name 'Blank Slate' and it was designed to feel good in your hands, slide easily into a purse or pocket and add no visual clutter to a desk or car.

What's next for the Recoil Winder?

DA: Lots of new stuff is coming. Our goal is to create ingenious and surprising solutions to the problem of tangled and unmanageable cables, wherever they’re found. We have six new cable management products in the pipeline, which we believe will really surprise people. We’re excited about our new products that will be released in Autumn 2013.

Have a look at an early review of the Recoil Winders here, keep up to date with Recoil on Facebook or via their website.

Shop for this great gadget on our brand page here to snap one up for yourself!

1. Let’s start with your Fine Arts degree - where did you study and why did you decide to study art?

My love of art come from a love of cartoons as a child. From an early age I wanted to be a cartoonist but soon realised that I didn't have the patience for animation. I had a small book called something like How to Draw Cartoon Characters and in the back there was a reference section with lots of different facial expressions, and torsos and legs in different positions. I loved to use these to create my own characters. I think that's why I mainly paint portraits and figures now. I wasn't a particularly academic child and struggled with reading, but drawing was something I would get a lot of praise for.

After school I went to the Winchester School of Art and then onto University of Chichester of my degree in Fine Art.

2. When did you start painting and how long did it take to develop your style?

At school I painted in acrylics and admired artists who could capture realism, something I didn't find easy to do. My paintings would end up too bright and colourful, probably due to my background in cartoons. When at University I transitioned from painting to working in video as the images I'd see in my head had started moving, and paint was no longer the correct medium.

3. Why did you transition to digital painting?

After graduating in 2003 I stopped painting altogether and started up my own video production company. It wasn't until, 7 years later, I read an article in a technology magazine showcasing what some artists had been painting on the iPhone. I immediately downloaded the Brushes App and started where I'd left off. Painting portraits and trying to capture that illusive realism... Portraits are wonderful as pieces of art. There's nothing quite like looking at a piece of art and have it stare back at you. But some part of it has to have realism, whether that's in shape, in colour or in something untangable.

4. Can you tell us about the hardware you use for digital painting? Which is your favourite tablet?

I started on the iPhone 3G and then grabbed an iPad as soon as I could afford one. I'm now using the 3rd Generation iPad, which is a lovely size and weight allowing me to pretty much paint anywhere. My last painting was done on the train up to London (Self portrait in yellow glasses).

Self portrait in yellow glasses
Self portrait painted on the iPad with Procreate and the SENSU brush
© Roz Hall

Microsoft saw some of my work and sent me a Windows 8 tablet to try out their Fresh Paint App. I enjoyed trying something new and the App, whilst being quite basic, was great fun and had some original features, but I can't see it taking me away from my beloved iPad.

5. Which apps are the best, in your opinion?

I try out as many different apps as I can but have a favourite three. Sketchbook Pro is very advanced and I like to use it when sketching or illustrating. InkPad is a vector drawing app and manages to be full of features whilst being incredibly easy to use.

A majority of my paintings are now created using Procreate. It is growing fast and has a number of beautiful and very responsive brushes. It manages to imitate traditional mediums without restricting you or slowing down your device.

6. Which styli do you use and which would you recommend? Do different syli/app combinations produce hugely different results?

I usually only use my finger to paint but have played around with a few basic styli such like the JOT mini, the ALUPen and the Pogo Sketch. My current favourite is the Sensu Brush, which has a small rubber stylus on one end and a physical brush on the other. I use the brush when blocking out a painting and then use the rubber tip for the detailed work. It is light and feels good in the hand. I'd love to try out one of the pressure sensitive brushes out there, like the JOT touch or the Pogo Connect but they're a little out of my price range.

7. What is the digital art community like - presumably it’s developing fast?

There is a very strong community out there spread across various areas. When I started to paint on the iPhone and iPad I'd post everything up onto Flickr and then into various groups. There are so many groups out there, ones for general iPad art and others specific for an individual app or stylus. Then there are Facebook pages and Twitter. There is a group called iAMDA (International Association of Mobile Digital Artists) who meet up globally from time to time.

8. Do you exhibit any of your digital art and, if so, where?

I have had work exhibited in various galleries. I try to find anything which will accept digital art as it's still fairly rare. My self portrait "Red Beard" (2012) got into the Lumen Prize, which is a global travelling exhibition of digital art. It was really nice to see it up in galleries in London, Latvia, Hong Kong and Shanghai!

Red Beard
Painted on the iPad using Procreate App
© Roz Hall

9. How did you need to adapt your technique when you transitioned to digital?

I think when I first started, I painted in a very traditional way, and took a while before I could really see the benefits of transparencies and layers. I still only like to use a single brush type for each painting, only changing the size, this helps create a painterly look. Working digitally allows me to work backwards, starting the foreground figure and then later on in the process, building the background to complement it.

10. In what ways has digital art improved and become more accessible since you discovered it?

I think it's becoming more accepted with the likes of David Hockney, Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst painting on the iPad. Hockney's solo exhibition at the Royal Academy got a lot of press and will hopefully cause the iPad to be more accepted in the Art world. I've already seen a change in the National Open Art Competition, who have now opened applications up for digital paintings.

I've also started to see iPad painting workshops popping up, one of which I'm involved with in Portsmouth.

11. What’s the piece of digital art you’re most proud of?

I'm proud of "Red Beard" because of the Lumen Prize tour and the places its travelled to, but also of a painting I did a while ago called "Freckles". It is a portrait of my wife and I like the detail of it. The colour is captured well and it's not too overworked. I've entered it for numerous exhibitions and competitions but it has failed to do anything, which is a shame, so I've hung it on my dining room wall.

Freckles
iPad art created using Procreate App
© Roz Hall

12. How long does it take you to complete a work of digital art?

That's a difficult one as I tend to paint in short chunks of time and I often get carried away. I sit in the staff room at work for lunch and have to set an alarm else I'd sit there for hours painting. I would guess that the recent portraits take about 6-8 hours to complete in total. When I think something is complete, I make it my desktop background and my phone wallpaper - so that I see it many times over a couple of days. That helps highlight anything which needs changing or improving. Then, when that's done, I throw it out to Flickr, Twitter, Facebook... setting it free so that I can't keep meddling with it.

13. I notice you tend to paint portraits - how did you arrive at this as a subject and how much do you deviate from it?

The art that connects to me more often that not is figurative or portrait. Capturing someones character is a really interesting thing to try to do. I'm especially interested in artists self portraits, and how they choose to depict themselves. One of my favourite paintings is Dürer's Self Portrait as Christ (1500), his painted eyes are so piercing that it is reported that somebody once slashed them with a hat pin.

I do lots of paintings of myself and my wife as those are two things that are always available to me, and I think reworking the same subject over and over can improve your understanding of how a face is structured, bone and muscle, cool and warm tones, freckles and hair...

I've tried to paint flowers and buildings in the past but nothing interests me more than those eyes staring back at you.

14. Can people commission you - what kind of paintings and how?

You can arrange a commission via my website, which links to an Etsy account. Currently there are three different versions you can choose from, a standard portrait, a vector portrait and a faux baroque portrait - great for a business man's office. I have also been asked to paint pets and houses in the past, so I'm always up for a challenge.

15. What is your Masters in and how does that affect your creative output?

I am currently doing my Masters at the University of Chichester, where I also work as a learning technologist. Going back into education again has reopened my eyes to the art world and artists who I had never heard of, like Peter Campus and Mike Parr. My current work is mainly video based and is all self portraiture. There is a link in my website which takes you to my Masters blog - as one of the tasks was to have an online presence to share your journey.

16. What do you see in your future as a digital artist and for the genre as whole?

I think that people will create art with whatever they have available to them. In the 1900s it was oils, in the 1960s it was film, in the 1980s it was video, in the 1990s it was computers and now we have touch devices and we have come full circle - from 30000 years ago painting with our fingers on the cave walls.

The fact that so many people have one of these devices in their pocket, means that it has opened art up to a wider audience. The art world will always be elitist, that's a part of its charm, but anyone can become an artist, you just need to do something which inspires. Either inspired others to create art, or inspires the debate of what art is.

You can find out more about Roz via his website and how to contact him for a commission and you can keep up to date with news via Twitter.

J Barbour and Sons was founded in 1894 by one John Barbour in South Shields (North East England) as an importer of oil cloth. Fast forward 119 years and it’s a certain waxed-cotton jacket that says ‘Barbour’ to most - these most iconic of gentry-style outdoor wear are still manufactured in Simonside, South Shields, making it a truly British institution.

These days Barbour has added to its range considerably and now offers moleskin, corduroy, polar fleece, game jackets... the list is endless. And with everyone from fashionistas Peaches Geldof, Alexa Chung and Olivia Palermo to royal icons Princess Di, Kate Middleton and HRH The Queen herself rocking Barbour jackets on many occasions, it’s a brand that’s not going anywhere any time soon.

Over recent years Barbour has branched out to continue appealing to the younger market while still retaining its countryside chic and gentry connotations and, as such, has become a British brand famous the world over for quality, style and practical products.

And, rather fabulously, they’ve also extended their range to include iPhone and iPad covers. We’ve just added the range and brand to our site and we’re really excited to share the beautiful cases with you - particularly with our introductory offer of 10% off all Barbour products.

Just use BARBOUR10 at the checkout to redeem yours.

START SHOPPING NOW

The code is valid until the end of June 2013.

BARBOUR QUILTED CASES FOR APPLE DEVICES

If you’re a fan of the classic, quilted Barbour jackets, then these cases would be ideal. We’re currently stocking a quilted flip case for iPhone 5 and a quilted iPad cover:

The quilted flip case for the iPhone 5

The Quilted cover for the new iPad

Oozing Barbour quality and quiet, sophisticated style, these cases are utterly practical and extremely covetous.

BARBOUR WAXED COTTON iPHONE 5 CASE

If you prefer the traditional waxed cotton material then we’re stocking a Barbour iPhone 5 waxed cotton flip case in a sophisticated chocolate colour. Using the same high-quality material as in Barbour’s classic jackets, it’s true Barbour style in your pocket.

BARBOUR LEATHER iPHONE 5 CASE

This is also a flip case, but this time in soft, quality leather. With a tartan lining and a discreet interior card slot, it can double as your wallet (as long as you don’t have too much loose change!) and will cradle your iPhone in safety, comfort and, most importantly, style!

1. What's the history of Proporta?

Proporta was founded by its two Directors, Guy Monson and Mike Coombes, back in 1996. This was obviously before Apple, HTC and Samsung were the main players and our first case was for a Psion 3 PDA. We were the first company to provide a Hard Case for the Psion and owe thanks to Guy's clumsiness - He was a Broadcast Journalist at the time, had lost his Filofax (we suspect due to being a little worse for wear on the last train out of London one Friday night) and bought a Psion so that he could back up his contacts. He promptly dropped and broke it and couldn't find a protective case in the market, so had an idea and decided to speak to his friend from University, Mike, who had a family with experience in plastics manufacturing. You can read more about us here.

2. What was the first product Proporta designed?

The Psion Hard Case was one of the first in the market. Proporta, at the time, was trading as Palm Tec and believe it or not, the case was considered very forward thinking. Our two Directors only had the funds to create one tool so the case was symmetrical, meaning that if you dropped it with enough force it would pop the closure clasp open, but it was a good indicator of the market for Mike and Guy and by the time Psion released new hardware we had cases with space for spare memory cards and the functionality to work with the Psion's pull out keyboard, and it stayed put. Since 1996 we've seen the rise and fall of many device manufacturers as well as a distinct evolution in the buying habits of our customers, with only 38%* of Proporta customers who buy multiple cases considering them purely protective items (indicating that fashion and the aesthetics of the accessory is very much a key influence).

* Source: March 2013 web survey of 361 respondents.

3. Is everything designed along with another brand?

How we work with a brand depends on how suits them best. Some prefer to submit their prints from a particular season and we add the function and others prefer us to take their mood boards and completely design a new range on their behalf. A key factor is also how long we've been working with the brand - Ted Baker, for example, have been working with us for six years so we're very "well oiled" when it comes to bringing in new lines.

4. How do you select the brands you work with - what kind of brands are they?

We work with a variety of brands, including Ted Baker, Joules, Barbour, Naf Naf Paris, Bentley, Quiksilver and Roxy, The National Gallery and Harrods, as well as designing our own collections under the Proporta brands. We're very mindful to not cross-over with brands too closely as we also distribute the accessories into our own retail channels and it doesn't make sense to compete with ourselves for shelf space. A new brand we'd consider partnering with would need to have excellent awareness within the market and preferably an international presence as we sell into a global retail space.

5. How does the design process work?

Typically we start by sitting down as a design team and looking at what trend movements we anticipate in the coming seasons. If we're working with a fashion brand, they obviously have their own prints and designs for an upcoming season as part of their apparel and accessories range, so we incorporate those wherever possible. We then put tech sheets together for sign off and proceed to prototyping. Once the samples have been signed off, we head into production.

6. How long does it take from concept to selling a product?

Time frames from concept to launch depends on the time of year and which devices are coming out. Around the time of an Apple announcement we need to be very quick to market and typically we have product in store within two weeks of the launch. Our most recent signing, Barbour, took just a few months from initial conversation with their design teams to product in store.

7. Where do you get your inspiration from?

We take inspiration from fashion trends, market research, customer feedback from our online store and the brands we work with... For instance, we've recently signed (but not announced, so I can't tell you who yet) a company that has excellent insight into future trends in the industry. This helps us to consistently stay ahead of the market and not simply follow our competitors.

8. What kind of brands influence Proporta?

Naturally we're influenced by the brands we work with, but it wouldn't be in anybody's interest to sit closely to their designs. I like to look at bag and small leather goods brands as this translates well into what we design and manufacture and we keep a close eye on the fashion weeks.

9. What cover do you have on your smartphone/tablet?

The covers I use on my own devices change almost daily (one of the perks of the job). At the moment I have a Barbour Welly Shell, which was inspired by their wellington boots and offers a nice rugged protection with a flash of colour. I'm afraid it hasn't been released so I can't show you a picture just yet, but keep an eye on our website in the coming weeks.

On my iPad mini I have a black Ted Baker folio case, which is great because it also has a stand feature.

On my Kindle (which I'm obsessed with) I have a Waterstones "Sherlock" case, which we make for them and which is a personal favourite of mine due to the tweed style lining and emboss on the front.

10. What's your favourite design so far?

Asking about my favourite design is a little bit like asking what my favourite film is as it's so dependant on mood and we have so many to choose from! My favourite of the moment is the Ritva print from Ted Baker - I love the bright colours and how thin it is against my iPhone.

11. What's in the future for Proporta - do you have any new collaborations coming up?

We've recently signed two new brands, which are both very different to each other and will present us with some interesting options for our different retail channels. 2013/14 sees us also increasing focus on the main Proporta collections so you'll continue to see a varied catalogue of accessories for all of the main players.

12. Tell us about Ted Baker and Barbour in particular - when did the collaborations start and how did you come up with the product designs for this season?

Ted Baker is our longest partnered brand and we've been working with them since 2007. They were one of the first fashion brands to realise, with our help, that Smartphone and Tablet accessories were more than just functional and that customers wanted to use them to accessorise, just as they would a bag or wallet. We match all mobile tech. accessory designs to coincide with Ted's seasons so that customers can enjoy matching their accessories with what they see in Ted Baker stores. Barbour is our most recently signed brand and we launched the products in April. We took the protective materials that Barbour has become so well known for, such as waxed cottons and quilts, and transferred these into fashionable, functional accessories.

A huge thanks to Lynnette who took the time to answer our questions and give us a peek into the world of Proporta and working with such leading brands. You can keep up to date with all the news from Proporta (and it sounds like there will be some exciting announcements coming up) via Twitter and Facebook. For those who love Pinterest their board is a fantastic smorgasbord of inspiration, products and tea cups!

Image source: The Guardian

Born and bred in Bradford, Hockney now splits his time between his houses in East Riding of Yorkshire, LA and London and continues to delight fans and newcomers to his art with explosive and original exhibitions using experimental mediums.

Hockney has synesthesia, which means he sees colours when listening to music, which he has used to great acclaim when set designing for ballet and Opera companies including Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the Royal Court Theatre in Glyndebourne.

Over the years he has always embraced new ways of producing his art. In the 60s it was acrylic. In the 80s he switched to making collages using Polaroid prints. And in 1985 he turned to computer art using Quantel Paintbox, which allowed him to sketch directly onto the screen. Frustrated by the slow speeds of computers back in the day, he eagerly embraced tablets as an artistic medium.

Since 2009 he has painted hundreds of landscapes, portraits and still life paintings using the Brushes app for iPhone and iPad. In 2010 he exhibited more than a 100 drawings displayed on iPads and iPods - called Fleur fraiches, the exhibit opened at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. In 2011, he painted Yosemite National Park on his iPad and last year held an exhibition called A Bigger Picture at the Royal Academy. Dedicated to landscapes the mixed medium exhibition included oil paintings and watercolours inspired by Yorkshire - and around 50 drawings were created on an iPad and printed out.

As the great man himself says about iPads “Who wouldn’t want one? Picasso or Van Gogh would have snapped one up.” He particularly likes the fact that modern apps and tablets can keep up with the speed of his ideas: “I can see just how I’ve made the strokes to form the drawings.”

Hockney actually eschews styli in favour of his fingers, finding they create effects satisfactorily, but many artists choose to use both or just a stylus. When interviewed by the BBC for his Fleur Fraiches exhibition he also said: “It’s a real privilege to make these works of art through digital tools which mean you don’t have the bother of water, paints and the chore of clearing things away. You know sometimes I get so carried away, I wipe my fingers at the end thinking that I’ve got paint on them.”

If you’re a budding David Hockney, or just like getting your digital art on, check out our range of styli, designed to help you produce great digital art. The Sensu Brush is a great digital art tool that we recommend for any aspiring artist.

The modern gent is stylish and hip and yet with something of the 19th century man about town.

But we are in modern times and every stylish sartorial gent will have the best gadgets available - from smartphones to iPads and MacBooks. So what are the best ways to complement your attire? At Covers and Cases, we have the stylish gentleman covered. Take a look at just some of the stylish, discreet and manly accessories and cases in stock right now:

TED BAKER SLIMTIM CASE

This case from the SS2013 collection from Ted Baker is perfect for the dapper gent about town. With a slim profile it won’t bulk out your handset and will slip discreetly into a suit pocket. The Slimtim case features a design that has a paisley influence.

TWELVE SOUTH IPHONE 5 CASE

This case is ultra slim and so discreet you can barely see it. It highlights the gorgeously smooth design of your iPhone without calling attention to itself. But if anyone does look at your phone, they are going to be jealous of the ultra-smooth style at your fingertips.

KNOMO MOULDED IPAD FOLIO CASE

Knomo is THE brand for discreet, gentlemanly style. Perfect for the office, classroom or just walking through town with your iPad, the Knomo moulded case is a whole bang for your stylish buck.

MOSHI VERSACOVER FOR IPAD AND MOSHI CONCERTI FOR IPAD MINI

If you’re a gent with a love of sharp design then Moshi is the brand for you - their awesome cases are beautifully thought out and work fabulously well. In addition, they look great in a stylish, quiet way. Well worth a look!

Try the Moshi VersaCover for the iPad or the Concerti case for the iPad mini.

THE SENSU BRUSH

Time to put down the quill and embrace the future! This amazing stylus from Sensu is ideal for the gentleman artist looking for the perfect tool for digital sketching.

MACBOOK AIR LEATHER ENVELOPE

If you’ve bagged yourself one of the most stylish and sophisticated Macs on the market then you can definitely stand to make sure you have a case worthy of its delicate beauty. This leather envelope from Knomo covers all bases and guarantees your Macbook has the covering it deserves.

Speck started as a spin-off of the design consultancy Speculative Design, LLC who were originally contracted to design some cases for an early Palm Pilot. This design work was moved in-house but the experience and knowledge gained inspired a group of designers to create the spin-off Speck.

When the iPod was released they shifted their design focus on this new device. Thanks to a contact at Apple Retail they were able to see their product sold in stores and from there the story of Speck really begins!

Early on it was just Bryan working on new product ideas but with the growth of the company there are now 16 designers working in a very collaborative process with smaller sub-teams working on product ideas. There is a dedicated team working on tablet devices and one on phone. Speck also has a design team devoted to colour and materials while another focuses on the packaging structure; the chat with Bryan really demonstrated Speck’s commitment to innovative design and their huge attention to detail... but more on that later!

The design team at Speck comes from a diverse background with experience in the home goods, watches and footwear industries. Speck deliberately seeks this diverse background as they look to take contextual influences from other spaces, Bryan explained that as the design space for cases is relatively new there exist a number of opportunities to shape the industry and the contextual experience the designers bring from other industries can help Speck shape and lead their particular field.

Releasing a new product to the market is no easy feat and Speck has a design model that is split to be effective and efficient. For new iterations of an existing design the team focuses on modifications to fit a new form and this process is much quicker than developing a brand new product; Speck can complete a new iteration of a case within a month.

In parallel to this is the development of new products which is a much more complex process that includes the creation of concepts, assessment of tooling requirements and needs, manufacturing prototypes and validation of the case performance - all of a sudden the design process becomes much more time consuming.

It was time in our call to put Bryan on the spot and find out what is his favourite Speck product, right now Bryan would choose the SmartFlex Shine for the iPhone 5 but you can tell from his enthusiasm for the brand that he is proud of all of their cases. The latest SmartFlex handset pushed the limits of manufacturing and Bryan told us they were “doing things which haven’t been done before”.

Bryan explained that he is really pleased with the SmartFlex Shine as it was a design process that “took a year to work through”! In order to achieve the desired results Speck and their manufacturer had to use an in-mould film system that uses a flexible substrate – a design process that had never been done before and for which Speck earned a patent, another one of Bryan’s proudest moments at Speck.

On a number of occasions during the call Speck demonstrated a desire to push forward manufacturing techniques and to identify a tooling solution rather than compromising on design.

Designing for the end user

We then probed a little deeper to try and find what Bryan’s favourite gadget to design for is. Bryan told us that he loves designing for Apple products as “Apple does a great job of managing the overall form of the device, which includes button details and connector details” and the “design aesthetics of Speck products translate off the Apple handset forms”.

Ultimately for Bryan though he enjoys designing for handheld devices as it requires an “intimate relationship with the user”.

The end user has a strong place in the design ethos of Speck and they place an emphasis on understanding on how the devices are used and then use this information in the design process.

And it’s not just what the design team thinks that measures the success of a project; “Feedback from users are key to the continuing development of Speck products and enhancing usability”. It’s encouraging to talk to a company and find such a passion for user feedback and to hear them stress how it forms a part of their whole design process, as Bryan said “news of a phone surviving a fall from a balcony or a skydiver at 200ft is inspiring”! In particular, he loves when mothers say their children sleep with iGuy, the iconic character that is unique to Speck for iPad and iPad mini.

With such a range of cases Bryan can pick and choose what case protects his iPhone 5 and on the morning of our call it is one of Speck’s leading cases, the CandyShell, which keeps his phone protected.

The fabulous CandyShell - A tasty confection of style and uncompromising protection

The CandyShell case has been an important development for Speck and one that Bryan is very proud of, he explained that the patented CandyShell design has done a lot for the company and has continued to develop through new derivatives such as the CandyShell Flip (clever flip back design ideal for docking) and CandyShell Grip (Speck’s solution to the ideal case for texting).

The CandyShell is an over-moulded case, in itself not a new production method, but Speck wanted the rubber moulded onto the inside of the case! Four manufacturers said it couldn’t be done, but eventually a manufacturer was found who wored with Speck on the tooling design to perfect the process.

The basis of the design was to combine the benefit of a rubber lining (providing impact protection) with the benefits of plastic on the outside, providing rigidity for the case as well as making the case easier to slip in and out of your pocket.

The attention to detail then kicked in with Speck designing the bezel edging to be raised to protect the screen and the case off-sets the buttons on the outside of the case.

The CandyShell Card (phone and wallet case all-in-one) iteration of the design has a thin, protective layer positioned between the card and the back of the phone to stop the card scratching the back of the phone. My favourite revelation was the development to add a tiny spring to the case so that one card is held as securely as three cards, it could seem like such a trivial detail but personally I find this embodies the design ethic of Speck. In Bryan’s words “we spend so much time thinking about every little detail”.

Speck is ready for the Samsung Galaxy S4

Speck has come a long way from their days thinking of design solutions for a Palm Pilot case so we were interested to find out what is next for the brand. Historically Speck has focused on iOS but with the growth in popularity of Android phones Speck are looking to introduce more Android cases into their range.

This expansion can be seen online with the HTC One for which Speck has the CandyShell, CandyShell Grip and SmartFlex View.

The imminent release of the Samsung S4 has many phone lovers waiting with baited breath for this latest version of the popular Android handset. To keep this top-of-the-range phone safe Speck has launched a range of their signature CandyShell case for the Samsung Galaxy S4. Shoppers can choose from the CandyShell, CandyShell Grip, SmartFlex Card and SmartFlex View.

The big differentiator of Speck

Chatting with Bryan was an absolute pleasure and he shared some fascinating insights into the brand which he is so clearly (and rightly) proud of.

To end the conversation we discussed how he works to avoid dumbing down the design of a product or compromising the usability of the end product. Speck demonstrate a willingness to find a solution to the design they have created rather than get a knock back from a manufacturer and modify the concept that has been generated.

It seems like a good time to share these inspiring thoughts from Bryan that are relevant for all designers;

“Focus on what it takes to make the product valuable for the end user”

A huge thank you to Bryan at Speck for talking with us and the team who arranged the call. You can find out more about Speck on their website and keep in touch with them via Facebook and Twitter.

Browse the range of Speck phone cases available online at Covers and Cases.

These days we’ve moved on from wax tablets somewhat, but with all the touchscreen swiping technology at our fingertips, the human need to wield a pen-like instrument is still around. The artistic, drawing, painting and writing apps now available, including Noteshelf, Notability and Paper lend themselves to the new breed of styli.

We’re really into them at Covers and Cases and we now stock four big brand name styli from Sensu, adonit, Musemee and Ten One, all with individual and innovative functions.

Here’s a quick summary of these amazing products - if you have a tablet and you like to write, draw, paint or play games, you should seriously consider bagging one for yourself.

Adonit Jot Mini - Green and purple Jot Mini on sale at £14.99 (usual price £22.95)

Meeting your stylus needs with style. It’s a pocket-sized, precision tipped stylus that fits neatly into your pocket. Designed to be as sharp as your ideas, the thin and clear disc gives you supreme accuracy and the freedom to write or sketch on a tablet as naturally as you would on paper.

Watch the Jot Mini in action:

It’s compatible with iPad, iPhone, MacBook Trackpads, Magic Trackpads, HTC, Samsung, Nokia, Motorola and Blackberry. We stock the Adonit Jot Mini in a range of beautiful brushed aluminium colours including lime green, red, purple and electric blue.

Musemee Notier Stylus - £24.99

Made of brushed aluminium and available in metal grey, silver or red, the Musemee Notier includes a clear flat disc at the tip, which surrounds a pointy rubber tip that’s pretty much the same size as a ballpoint pen. The cap is built in so you can’t lose it and it gives a feel similar to a real pen.

The Musemee Notier stylus is compatible with all capacitive touch screens: iPads, iPhones, Samsung, HTC, Motorola, ViewSonic.

Musemee is also currently developing a Notier App for the iPad - fans of this elegant stylus should keep an eye on their website.

Sensu Brush - £39.99

From a Kickstarter to success in the market - the Sensu Brush is a real trailblazer and marks a step change in the stylus sector. Designed by Artist Hardware, based in Illinois, USA, the Sensu Brush has been designed with artists in mind. Using a new synthetic hair that has conductive properties, the Sensu Brush mimics a real paint brush to give the user the experience of painting.

To find out more about the fantastic Sensu Brush read our fascinating interview with Rick Rousseau, the creator and designer of the Sensu Brush.

Ten One Pogo Connect Stylus - £64.99

The Pogo connects via Bluetooth to give you pressure sensitive writing. Simple, classic design encases the Pogo Connect in an aluminium rod about the thickness of an AA battery with a removable rubber tip at one end. A button near the tip allows you to connect it to your tablet - it can also act as a secondary command for some apps. It’s simple to set up and easy to use - if you want to be able to sketch and draw with precision then the Connect Stylus is for you!

Find out more about Ten One Design in our interview with the brand.

Sleek and sophisticated design doesn’t mean dull and boring. Your choice of accessories should reflect the person you are on the inside. Dressing for the office isn’t just about the suit you wear or the outfit you choose anymore - it’s also about the accessories you select for your gadgets.

Check out just some of the brands we have in stock for the stylish executive (they’re just as beautiful and functional for non-execs too, by the way! After all, everyone likes to be elegant sometimes).

C6 - Designed for your digital life

C6 pride themselves on evolving along with the digital world and reflecting this evolution in its range of accessories. Their products are exciting, stylish and functional - in a nutshell, they’re beautifully formed and built to last.

They design and produce gorgeous bags and cases for Apple devices, combining simplicity and pure style to create modern, sleek solutions to protect and enhance your gadgets.

Their MacBook sleeves are unobtrusively stylish and make a quiet, dignified impact and their laptop bag combines elegance, function and form all in one perfect bag, designed for you to take your digital life on the move with you.

Knomo London

Back in 2004 Knomo was born out of the desire to find a bag that would protect a laptop but was also smart and stylish. The team couldn’t find what they wanted, so gave up their day jobs to create the perfect bag for modern usage.

Their very name underlines their brand ethos - it comes from two words: knowledge and mobility. They’re fascinated with the way in which technology is transforming our lives and diligent about keeping up with these changes in the products they design.

Their cases and bags come in various beautiful designs, guaranteed to get you noticed for all the right reasons. One of our favourites is the Knomo Henderson Slim Laptop Briefcase, a sleek and versatile laptop briefcase with a slimline design. Made of soft soft, beautiful, full grain leather it also has a back panel made of recycled PET fabric (made from recycled plastic bottles) for added durability.

Twelve South

Creating beautifully designed accessories exclusively for Apple, Twelve South are all about enhancing user experience, with a focus on design and function. They focus on designing cases for true Mac fans, and incorporate ways to enhance the user experience as well as provide accessories that look fantastic.

We love the Twelve South SurfacePad for iPhone 5, which perfectly hugs your smartphone. It’s feather light and credit card thin, minimalistic in design and incorporates a stand for hands-free use. Twelve South purposely design covers that enhance the look and style of your Apple product, in order to complement the iconic design rather than hide it.