2 posts tagged “m.bian case”

In Responses to M.bian Moleskine Case, Mark Dwight posted a reply that he could help.  In several quick exchanges, I found that he was about to come to Hong Kong and we immediately set up a meeting.
Mark was actually the CEO/investor of Timbuk2 from 2002 to 2006, who sold the company to private equity investors and left along side with Rob Honeycutt, the founder of Timbuk2, to establish a new company called Rickshaw Bagworks.  Rickshaw means human power and Mark is going to launch the first bag with Rob in early 2008.  The first appearance will be in TED conference, which Rickshaw sponsors the official conference bag to be handed out to attendees (each style has exactly two copies, so you will be so lucky to meet a person carrying the same bag design out of the thousand attendees).  Mark is going to have 10 minutes talks to the audience about how Rickshaw uses recycle materials to create its bags - from bottle to bag.
We had a long chat about bag features and Mark went into so many technical details about how to make a great bag from recycle materials.  Finally we came to discuss the M.bian case.  I told him the reasoning behind the case, while he made many input about usability and suggested to concentrate on simple features rather than trying to be too many things at the same time.  Next move, some sample materials from him and we hope to do something good for the community.  To date, there is not one single case specifically designed for Moleskine which is more than just a cover IMHO, I hope we can create something great with style.

M.bian Moleskine Case was my original design back in 2005.  Dozens of prototyping and refinement were done and I even created a POP system for display in retail stores.  However the production quantity required to get price down to consumer acceptable level couldn't be met.  I had some opportunities to be able to have U.S. large distribution network to help lower the cost but turned out because of their Moleskine distributorship prevented them to sell products that could potentially harm the Moleskine business, I lost the chance to make it happen.  Time flies, it is already two years passed.
When I was developing the M.bian case, my mind was thinking about ambience, i.e. an aura of excitement without intrusion.  That's where the name M.bian came from.  Today, I still use the prototypes to hold my pens, travel accessories and Moleskine.
I designed the velcro/button hanging system with two levels of height, i.e. you can have the M.bian case hanged from your waist belt close to the waist or have it lowered.  You have more chance to hurt your waist if the case is held close to it, especially when you try to sit down on an armed chair, the case can pop to your waist and hurt you.  That's why I designed a lowered configuration so that it stays near your lap preventing the armchair accident.
To me, the features are amazing coz M.bian is a condensed version of my whole digital/analog life.  It has 3 pen holders on the outside covered with a flap, which acts as a quick pocket for storing train tickets and receipts.  It has 2 mesh pockets inside to put more essential stuffs.  It also has a headphone access port so that you can use it as an iPod holder on your belt.  It also has cushion to protect your iPod or Moleskine.
When you are sitting or standing, accessing your Moleskine or iPod is super easy, just unzip forward and down, your iPod/Moleskine is exposed and you can quickly pull it out.
You can also use it as a travel pouch to store iPod and related connecting cables and headphones.
I love the headphone access port feature, it is water proof and headphone jack can easily pass the small but flexible opening.
The size is just fit for pocket size Moleskine, but it also fits standard passport so your personal identification document is never far from your waist.  Pockets can even hold your portable digital camera.
Well, in this configuration, you can put a pen, a zippo lighter, a swiss knife and a small size compass.  All on the outside easily accessible pocket and pen holders.
Since travelers use backpacks and most backpacks has some nylon strap on the shoulder strap.  I added a small but userful hole on the velcro strap so that not only you can hang your M.bian case on belt, you can strap it on your backpack.  Call it an explorer's case :)
For less active persons, M.bian case can be used as a pen case storing your precious pens both on the outside 3 pen holders and inside spacious compartments.
This must be the most loved feature of Moleskine users, instead of freely insert your Moleskine into the case, you can insert the left part of your Moleskine to the left side of the pouch which has a vertical mesh pocket.  This setup is like a notebook cover for your Moleskine.  On the other hand, if you are a Moleskine Reporter user, you can use the horizontal mesh pocket on the right side of the case to insert your Reporter!  Call it a double feature!

Finally, comparing the price for all the other Moleskine cases available in the market, it is still the best.  I hope somebody is still interested in this complete design.  I also want it to be done in leather which feels more precious.  So even though it didn't happen, it doesn't mean it won't and I love the features offered very much and it is my daily companion for the pass 2 years and still works great for me.  Get in touch with me if you are interested to help make it come true.