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IPAD 2 BUYERS’ GUIDE
IDESIGN
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Twelve South described itself as Maconly,
but after the iPad launched,
BookBook and BookArc quickly beat a
path to Apple’s tablet in smaller forms.
These designs illustrate how Twelve
South tends to focus on products that
fix problems, rather than just creating
items simply to add more to its lineup.
A better example is Compass, Twelve
South’s first iPad-only accessory, which
functions as an upright or typing stand
before folding down into a tiny picklike
shape. Beyond its utility, Compass
features a design that begs to be
played with - we’ve found ourselves
reaching for it in times of boredom and
strife alike, folding and unfolding the
steel body as one might repeatedly
squeeze a stress ball. And then
there’s Magic Wand, a decluttering
accessory for Mac desktop users; the
hollowed tube enables Apple’s Wireless
Keyboard and Magic Trackpad to be
connected to one another, reducing
the Trackpad’s tendency to “walk”
on a desk and enabling the two
peripherals to be carried together
into a living room. Simple or
complex, each of these products is a
mix of influences from Apple’s own
designs, architecture, fashion, and
classic design, resulting in products
that are both straightforward and
clever. Love them or not, they’re
all imbued with a well-defined
sense of purpose, problem solving,
and occasional charm that sets
them apart from the status quo.
Ambitious new developers would
do well to pay attention to the
lessons offered here: bigger isn’t
always better, and sometimes a
small, elegant solution will beat out
bigger, more complex alternatives.
1 Compass
2 MagicWand
3 Compass
4 MagicWand
5 BookArcs for
MacBook and iPad
6 BookBook for
MacBook, open
7 BackPack
8 BookBook for
MacBook, closed
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