A lot has happened since 2009. We've launched hundreds of products, learning and growing from each success and failure. Join us as we look back on a decade and a half of product design.
2009-2012
The iPhone Era
Grovemade started as a bamboo iPhone case company. It was the early days of iPhone, and the first case we designed was for the iPhone 3G.
KEN TOMITA (Grovemade Co-Founder): The curves and complex geometry made for an incredibly difficult case to manufacture.From the start, our product focus was on making something exceptional that you really couldn't find anywhere else. 'Made the Hard Way' meant flexing engineering muscles and learning how to make a durable, natural case for your iPhone that respected its industrial design. The early bamboo cases were really a canvas for art—back in 2009, a big part of our business was the Artists' Series, where customers could select laser engraved art that would go on the back of the![Detail of artist Add Fuel To The Fire's "Flipside" on the Grove Bamboo iPhone 4 case, photographed on a red fire hydrant.]()
But the industrial design was still a factor—consider the space-door inspired notch that allowed the case to register and look good as you slid it together. The simpler method to bring the halves together was to make a straight line joint—however, it was much less visually interesting. (Hint: keep an eye out for this jog as we journey through the years.)
For the first couple years, we continued developing cases for iPhones (thankfully, with simpler geometries on the iPhone 4 and 5!) and introduced new ranges of iPad skins and wall art. We were learning—about business and product design—and getting our hands dirty in the difficult work of designing, manufacturing and selling physical products.
For the first couple years, we continued developing cases for iPhones (thankfully, with simpler geometries on the iPhone 4 and 5!) and introduced new ranges of iPad skins and wall art. We were learning—about business and product design—and getting our hands dirty in the difficult work of designing, manufacturing and selling physical products.
