DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
: After looking for a high paying job, which was stable; I knew I had to create my own company with a useful design. I knew the only way for me to always have a permanent job and provide economic growth, was to build something that was never created. With the creation of the eClip I could provide economic growth. I kept thinking to myself, technology is the future. I had to incorporate a device which can protect personal data, intellectual property, employer data, customer data, and trade secrets with security software. I also wanted to create a device that I could use everyday for my studies and work.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
: I focused on creating versatile technology, which is used everyday in our life. I had to create something, which has meaning. I had to create something that can support me financially while I design more unique and innovative devices. There was a problem with USB flash drives at that time which were not multifunctional, so I made it happen.
DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
: 1) I will begin distribute the eClip worldwide.
2) I want the eClip to be in museums worldwide.
3) I want to eventually create a career for many people in my company so they don't need to struggle looking for a job.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
: Approximately two months.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
: I designed the eClip for many reasons. I wanted to protect personal data, intellectual property, employer data, customer data, and trade secrets with security software. Nobody asked me to design anything for them, I just wanted to build something really awesome for museum displays, for security purposes, for professionals in the healthcare field, and for students to use in their daily life. In 2010, Federal Trade Commission estimates that the annual losses to business from data and identity theft amount to almost $50 billion. Data theft costs consumers up to $5 million annually. eClip protects personal data, intellectual property, employer data, customer data, trade secrets, and other sensitive data.
DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
: I hold all rights to the design and will expand distribution worldwide in online retailers and physical store locations.
DI: What made you design this particular type of work?
: The global market for USB Flash Drives, by volume sales is projected to reach 568 million units by 2015. The future is technology and many people worldwide use USB flash drives in their daily life. The paper clip flash drive is built for many uses and serves as model 1 for many other data storage devices. I knew the only way I could compete with these huge corporations was to design something unique and useful to compete with them. I also had to design a versatile device, so the memory chip is magnetic resistant, dust resistant, alcohol resistant, fresh water & salt water resistant (48 hours tested in fresh & salt water), shock resistant, dust resistant, scratch resistant, airport security resistant.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
: Age groups 18 - 75
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
: Frohne eClip is the world's first versatile paper clip USB flash drive. eClip protects your personal data, intellectual property, employer data, customer data, and trade secrets with security software. eClip features a gold memory connector that is scratch resistant, extreme weather resistant, dust resistant, shock resistant, fresh & salt water resistant (tested 48 hours is salt & fresh water), alcohol resistant, magnetic resistant, and airport security resistant. eClip functions like a regular paperclip to organize your reciepts, bills, money, or other paper items. The eClip can be situated in a pocket, necklace, or in a binder folder. eClip is the only known versatile paper clip USB flash drive on the market with a metric ruler.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
: I thought of electronics and a paper clip so I amalgamated both words to produce eClip.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
: There are two which are equal, the paper clip function and the metric ruler. I use both equally in my daily life.
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
: The role of technology is the versatility the eClip. The eClip measures short distances and has an extreme weather resistant memory chip that enables it to be scratch resistant, extreme weather resistant, dust resistant, shock resistant, fresh & salt water resistant (tested for 48 hours in fresh & salt water), alcohol resistant, rust resistant, airport security and magnetic resistant.
DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
: Yes the eClip is influenced by data. In 2010, Federal Trade Commission estimates that the annual losses to business from data and identity theft amount to almost $50 billion. Data theft costs consumers up to $5 million annually. The eClip protects personal data, intellectual property, employer data, customer data, trade secrets, and other sensitive data. Since the global market for USB flash drives, by volume sales is projected to reach 568 million units by 2015, I can help save people and companies money by providing them with versatile storage devices.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
: The biggest challenge I faced was monetary support. Although I am very frugal with my money, I had to save every penny for a while to produce these eClip USB flash drives. Another difficulty was being a college student full-time and working a normal job simultaneously while building my company. I worked all hours of the night sometimes until 5am the next morning.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
: After retailers started selling my product in a short amount of time; I knew something big was happening and the world had to know better technology is coming.
DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
: I learned that creating the unknown was the best thing for the future for the eClip models and my company.