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How to build a portable phone holder

30.4.2020

Translation: Eva Francis

Video calls haven't only become part of my everyday life, they're also taking their toll on my body. Holding the phone in my hand for hours on end hurts my arms. That's why I tried the egg box lifehack by designer Paul Priestman.

My screen time has doubled since the lockdown started. The effect? My arm and right hand are beginning to feel sore. I (too) often hold my smartphone in my hand and stretch my arm out during video calls. I’ve tried other solutions, leaning my phone against things, but it always slips. Similar to my heel spur therapy, I do stretching exercises every day, hoping this will protect me from developing tendinitis. But maybe I should be fighting the cause instead of the symptoms. In the search for a mobile phone stand, I encountered people who have the same problem. British designer Paul Priestman has published a video that shows how to make a phone holder out of an egg box in just two minutes.

No more double chin and «phone arm»

«The idea came out of necessity,» Paul Priestman explains. «As I'm sure many others will identify with, I've spent a lot of time on video calls since the beginning of the lockdown, both with work and with family and friends. I kept getting 'phone arm', where you hold the phone at arm's length so long your arm starts hurting. And almost daily on the news, I'd watch someone doing an interview on their phone from an awkward angle.»

This design gives you hands-free chatting and shows you from a favourable angle. Video: Paul Priestman

I'm sure you know exactly what Paul is talking about and have a picture of your last video chat in your head. There's usually at least one person who's struggling with technology in our daily video meetings within the Galaxus editorial team. Or someone who's busy adjusting the equipment throughout the call. The other day, I saw my whole face on my cell phone screen but all my team members could see was my mouth. I tried moving the phone further away, but then they couldn't hear me anymore. The egg box hack is supposed to change this situation for the better.

An accessible and sustainable design

I came across Paul last year. The designer is co-founder of the design studio PriestmanGoode, which proposed a redesign for airline articles to reduce cabin waste. Over the last ten years, he and his company have been developing ideas to reduce overcrowding in public transport and improve accessibility at airports.

There are two different versions of the phone holder: a basic version...

...and one with a power base that uses two egg boxes, allowing you to charge your smartphone while you’re using it.

This design is also the result of Paul carefully observing his environment to improve everyday items. He also tried to make a phone stand out of other objects such as toilet paper, tissue boxes and bananas. It was important to him that he didn't have to buy anything and that his design could be made at home and without special knowledge or tools. «I began looking for materials around his house, and used an old wine box to make his first prototype,» Paul says. After two weeks, when he knew all the requirements, the characteristics of the egg cartons fitted perfectly.

The textured surface of the egg box is naturally non-slip.

It gives the perfect angle in both portrait and landscape formats.

After I cut up my egg box, I paint it with spray and acrylic paint and brush. This takes a little longer than the two minutes Paul indicates, but it makes my new phone holder blend in with the rest of my home. My first test run is success: my counterpart can hear and see me very well during the video call. The mobile phone doesn’t slip. I also send my result to Paul to get his opinion on it. «I like the blue pattern,» he answers. But his design isn’t painted. A minimalist, he prefers the fibre aesthetics, which emphasises the shape.

It requires no tools other than a pair of scissors.

Have an egg box at home? Give it a try! This 2-minute DIY job is super handy.

142 people like this article

Pia Seidel

Senior Editor

Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.ch

Like a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.

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How to build a portable phone holder

No more double chin and «phone arm»

An accessible and sustainable design

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