BLOND Fold Charger

Exploded view showing internal copper induction coils and housing layers of a folding wireless charger.

With the increased demand for wireless headphones and other portable devices, many charging solutions are now required to keep our tech powered. We designed Fold, a folding wireless charging solution, in response to a lack of genuinely portable multi-chargers on the market. Fold enables the user to charge up to three products simultaneously. The device can also fold into several configurations, including a phone stand and a compact, portable-friendly stack, to best suit the user’s current requirements. Alongside the functional motivations and user benefits, we designed Fold to explore how the tech world can create more sustainable products while also raising awareness of the environmental impact of electronics. Where other comparable charging mats are built by sandwiching dozens of different materials between layers of glue—rendering them inaccessible for repair, reuse or recycling at the end of their short lifespans—Fold has been stripped back to its most fundamental necessities, creating an almost skeletal aesthetic. Notably, the skeletal form allows the user access to the fastening methods so the product can be taken apart to be upgraded or maintained.

Flick animation of various uses of the wireless charger. First, shows the unfolded four-pad wireless charger, followed by the inclusion of a smartphone resting on one of the four pads. Next, the wireless charger begins to fold and includes a second smartphone and an earphone case, followed by the wireless charger in a triangular configuration with a horizontal smartphone in position.
Small angled view of an unfolded four-pad wireless charger on a black background.
Wireless charger folded into a triangular phone stand structure.
Animation of a tool adjusting the internal charging coil component of the device.
Exploded layout showing outer housing and inner circuit elements of the charger.
Unfolded four-pad wireless charger displayed diagonally on a dark background.
Folded wireless charger unit stacked neatly into a compact rectangular form.
Vertical top-down view of an unfolded four-pad wireless charger.
Close-up view of charging pad surfaces showing copper induction coils and power connection.
Open black retail packaging box displaying the unfolded wireless charger unit inside.