Small States features small companies that design and manufacture within the United States.
What makes a great product? Quality materials. Simple yet functional design. Beautiful craftsmanship. This week, we’ve found a dock that manages to check off everything on the list.
Meet the Spool Dock from Quell & Company. The home for your iPhone and iPad mini that not only looks beautiful, but also functions beautifully.
It is the first dock I’ve used that truly made me want to interact with it. With the Spool Dock it goes beyond charging your phone, it’s an experience.
Hand crafted using home grown wood and wool felt, this dock is capable of more than your average charging station from the Apple Store. It is a well-thought-out design that adjusts for a wide variety of scenarios in a way most cannot.
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With its two adjustable wood and felt holders, the Spool Dock can resize to fit your device with or without a case. Additionally, the metal base rotates using a ball bearing system that winds your Lightning cable into the dock itself. This clever design makes Spool Dock one of our favorite charging solutions for frequent travelers.
It is no surprise that the Spool Dock has a well-thought-out design, creator Jeremy Saxton has spent his whole life working with some of the greatest design companies in the world. From his time in Oregon working on Nike+ to designing outdoor gear for Black Diamond, Jeremy has worked with some of the best. With the Spool Dock, he saw an opportunity to improve on an area lacking in innovation.
“With the Spool Dock I felt there was room to improve the charging experience.” Jeremy says of the initial thought process, “At my house the cable situation was out of control and solving that problem was my goal.”
Instead of focusing on the actual charging function, Jeremy first set out to create a dock that blended in with its surroundings instead of blending in
with the device.
“I observed that the typical charging station was only occupied for a fraction of the day. Similar to a nice vase, we wanted it to look right at home whether it was being used or not. With the dock I saw an opportunity to create something warmer, more human that I’d want to be in my modern home.”
In the end, what Jeremy created was a beautiful solution to a need that often goes unaddressed in the tech world.
“The goal ultimately was to create something that had a touch of the past. With woods that are simple while still making the functionality of the product the main feature. Making a dock that was almost primative in nature but had a functionality that was very advanced.”
For the majority of us, the Apple charging block and Lightning cable included with our device is the solution. However, this setup leaves something to be desired for those with an eye for aesthetics. While Apple certainly is known for creating beautiful devices, sometimes a little assistance showcasing the product makes all the difference. With Spool Dock, you feel like your device is beautifully on display – much like a piece of artwork in your home.
The beauty however lies when your phone is not charging, the dock fits right in while still being a conversation starter. That in itself is certainly an impressive feat.
“It’s a very holistically designed product, no matter how you turn it there really is not a front or a back. It’s a 360 degree designed product. The goal is to integrate the form and function in the most human way possible.”
We certainly found the Spool Dock from Quell & Company to be a gorgeous addition to our office space. It interfaces well with the device, while creating the perfect angle for utilizing what the iPhone has to offer. The Spool Dock certainly would be a great addition to any home, especially those with a keen eye for simple design.
Quell & Company is offering an exclusive 10% off promo code for gadgetnewsonline readers. Simply visit their website and enter gadgetnewsonline during the checkout process.
This week, we’ve got three Spool Docks to giveaway to our readers in the color of their choice. To enter this giveaway, follow @gadgetnewsonline on Twitter and retweet the article. If Facebook is more your thing, Like us and share this article with your friends. Additionally, you can leave a comment at the bottom of this article to enter the giveaway as well. We’ll choose three winners next Saturday. Good luck!
Previous winners:
- Grado Headphones – @omar_cruz
- This is Ground – @chrismachian
- Myro:Air – @strikeux
- Grovemade – @morganrhc
- Jamstik MIDI guitar – @EGHSPrincipalRI
- PUC MIDI hub (x2) – @broni / @phillsea
- Owen & Fred – @kenjancef
- Carved – Multiple winners
- Waterfield Designs – @zrockstar
- Tinsel and Timber –
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Nice minimalist design to be place
“Well thought out” – wow. You mean totally un-thought out.
It blocks the headphone cable, blocks sound, blocks the mic and blocks touch ID.
It also looks really, really bad and un-apple. This is one of the worst docks I have ever seen.
I looked into this for a long time – the only dock I found that covers ALL bases was the High Rise one. I suggest looking into that – it is near perfection.
this isn’t a dock for people who want functionality beyond charging and screen access. This IS well thought out because its meant to be a paradox in natural vs man made materials.
Because of the great response from our readers, Quell & Co. has decided to extended the gadgetnewsonline promo code for another week. If you did not win you can still go get this gorgeous dock at a discounted price!
When are winners chosen?
Winners have been chosen and are being contacted within the next 24 hours. Thanks to everyone that entered this weeks Small States giveaway!
Good luck to everyone!
Beautiful combination of form and function!
would love to have ones of these! Love the design.
This looks absolutely gorgeous.
Looks really well designed. Nice touch with the wool/felt.
That’s very interesting that the charging port stays put when you rest/pull-out your iPhone. I’d buy one, if it’s not too expensive.
looks awesome!
Great looking dock. Would love to have one!
Would love one of these!
Beautiful
My iphone should be here on Friday so a win would be awesome
I follow and retweeted @tweetyscute
I been looking for a elegant stand for my iPhone for years and finally found one !!!
Absolutely gorgeous, so simple. The minimal design works with the accenting colors, and the functionality of being able to adjust various iPhone cases is brilliant and not as common as one might hope for in a dock.
I have been looking for a gorgeous dock for my desk that matches my wood and aluminum aesthetic. This is THE most beautiful dock, EVER. EVER.
Single best looking dock EVER. Obsessed with this juxtaposition of natural materials vs the sleek modern iPhone.
looks very nice!
I love the combination of wood, metal, and textiles. Never seen a more beautiful dock!
Looks like an iPhone would be cozy in this dock
This dock is purty!!!
Stunningly Simple – I love it!
So elegant. Great design. I love the “naturalness” of the wood and felt! I would love to win one!
These look very sleek! Would look great on my desk.
I’ve had my eye on this dock for a while now.
This design is really one of the finest docks out there for iphone!
As always, simple design wins!
Love the design. 🙂
Surprisingly sturdy. I thought it would roll around leaving me scared to knock over when swiping in the AM.
Does it work with small cases? What dimensions?
I really like the design! It looks so simple and fits perfect to Apple…
Love it
Cool design, I like!
🙂
i would like one!!!
i really like the compact design and the use of wood and felt… @yulmbutler
This awesooooooome!! I would love one of these!!! Pleeeeease? 🙂
Looks amazing. Would love a dock like this.
Awesome design…woiuld love one!
Shut up and take my money!
*entry* 😉
Beautiful docks, good luck to all. (Hope I win one :))
A dock for my iPhone will definitely solve my desk with messing wiring issue… 🙂
I can has??
Wow that is awesome! Nike and Apple have always been very similar.
This dock looks pretty cool~~
But I love the look of too much loose cable laying about my desk…
This is very creative!! Should blend in well through offices or homes.
This looks nice, but I’d like it more if it had its own lightening cable, I’m always on the fence about buying this kind of products because most of them bend the cable, everyone knows how easy it is to break them!, and because sometimes I need just the cable and charger on the go, so I’d need to take it off several times a month… but yeah this dock is cool!
Finally someone is using some nice materials. So different from all the metal and plastic! Wood is best!
They’re seriously beautiful!
Looks neat
Great Dock! Would go great on my wooden desk.
Awesome giveaway! Hope I win one..very interesting idea! =)
That dock is beautiful! I think i first saw it last year on Kickstarter, but couldn’t get one at the time. Would love to have one!