A case study in folded aluminium, hidden hinges, and the discipline of leaving things out.
Most charging stands look like two parts bolted together — a base and an upright. Orbit Fold reads as a single sheet that has been folded once. The hinge is concealed behind the front lip; the radius wraps continuously across the join.
A four‑bar steel mechanism sits inside a 4 mm cavity behind the front lip, driven by two friction discs tuned to 1.2 N·m. The result is a stand that holds firmly at 68° but releases with one finger.
Folded profile — the thinnest dimension that still accommodates the 5000 mAh cell, coil and PCB stack.
Open stand angle — chosen for desk reading distance of 45–60 cm.
Spring‑loaded USB‑C travel — enough clearance for a case, short enough to feel intentional.
Weight tuned to feel substantial in hand but invisible in a jacket pocket.
“A good object should resolve into a silhouette that you can describe in one sentence.”
The brief was to make a device that disappeared into a desk and a bag with equal grace. We removed every feature that didn’t earn its place — a status display, a second port, a kickstand, decorative branding. What remained is the silhouette: a folded slab with a single warm LED and an engraved wordmark.
Forged aluminium chosen for thermal conductivity and post‑finish texture uniformity.
A fine matte finish that holds fingerprints lightly and softens reflections under warm lighting.
Graphite anodised layer — 18 µm — applied for corrosion resistance and tonal stability over time.