What does cinnamon, coriander and oregano have to do with PowerDock 4? I’m so glad you asked.
When we originally conceptualized our PowerDock 4 multiple charging bases, we considered some different ways to lay out the device. Here’s some early sketches that we reviewed with a small focus group. 
The group studied each design while picturing their iPods and iPhones docked within. The majority of them chose D as the best layout. Why?
They compared it to a spice rack, noting that you would be able
to see each iPod’s display clearly. They added that this format would also allow for quick and easy removal.
The new PowerDock was born soon after based on the simple comparison of your typical spice rack.
(Photo by: TheatricAl)
After sharing his finding with some other people around the office, a small cardboard scoop was fashioned to replicate the effect of his hand. The end result was a laughable combination of cardboard and duct tape that did more to remind them why they were software designers than help amplify the sound coming from the iPhone.
resembled an old gramophone, and the idea of an acoustic amplifier began taking shape. Before long, doodles turned into sketches, which became an engineered paper horn. The copy-paper horn sounded surprisingly good, grabbing the attention of product development, and the project officially took off.
The first dock variation came off the 3D printer, and after the “amusingly difficult” task of removing printer debris, the team discovered the funneled and more airtight dock design improved the sound quality. Now was the time to apply a little math – yes, there really is a formula to this.
was updated, the design tweaked, and a little more math was applied to fine tune the shape. A couple different materials were experimented with, and the fit was updated to maximize connection with the iPhone.