By Benedict O’Boyle

I left University in 2005 with a box of hand tools and a family on the way. In 2006 Benedict’s Fine Furniture was created in Hertfordshire, where I have been making bespoke, hardwood furniture and crafts ever since. Apart from a break to write a book, Little Step’s around the World, following my wife, Anya, our 3 year old daughter Layla and I, as we took an 8 month break to backpack around the world on a budget.

Returning to the real world and my passion for fine craft, I quickly found myself enjoying focusing on furniture, beautiful timbers and a pursuit of original design. Design with function and integrity. I was looking for something clever, but also beautifully natural and organic. Something people would love.

I started developing iPad stands after Santa gave the family an iPad for Christmas. I wanted to get our new tablet, out of Layla’s hand, whilst she was dancing to the music playing on it. I used half a log and cut a groove in it, creating a simple dock, for charging and keeping it safe when Layla was enjoying her music.

Upon instructing Layla as to the iPad’s new home, we both discovered that the iPad got louder when we put it in the log!! I realised the sound was resonating through the timber and this was causing an increase in the volume and an improvement in the sound quality, completely naturally.
I then developed an acoustic–curve beneath the groove. After months of experimentation with different dimensions of the acoustic-curve, I eventually found the optimum size for maximum volume increase.

This curved echo-box allows the resonating sound waves to bounce off any hard surface the iWood-amp is placed on, amplifying them like a gramophone horn. The curve forces the sound waves into the room, so that as if by magic, your iPad almost doubles in volume!! Even I was astounded by the difference it made.

The iWood-amp is 100% British, 100% solid wood and 100% hand-crafted. Shaped from a solid piece of locally sourced, sustainable timber, and finished with a natural oil polish. The beautiful grain and colour, makes it something that people want to hold and its solid yet tactile aesthetics make it the perfect gift, ideally for yourself!

The iWood makes watching movies, catching up on TV, browsing with friends or sharing music easier and more convenient, and without the need for plastic, wires or batteries! It completely naturally makes your iPad louder. The iWood-AMP works with any tablet with a speaker on the edge, allows charging while in use and it also works for the iPad mini. The iWood-mobile (a beautifully cute pocket-sized amp for your smart phone), and more iWood innovative products are already on the way!