An Interview with Mantis’ Clinton Fleenor

As Mantis starts shipping out to light up people’s lives, we caught up with ideator, Clinton Fleenor, a man as versatile as the product he helped create.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m originally from Idaho, but Luey and I currently live in a loft in downtown Richmond, Virginia, with Chief the dog. I “work for free”, volunteering on the administrative side of the kid’s ministry at church, and with the neighborhood civic association. Luey and I enjoy the art galleries and restaurants around the neighborhood, the local pro soccer team, and driving over to visit our first grand kid in central Illinois.

2. When did you join Quirky?

February, 2010

3. How did you find out about us?

I read about Quirky in a Delta Airlines in flight magazine article about crowd sourcing.

4. When and how did you think up the idea for this product?

I thought of the idea when the “Cool Light” brief was announced.

When trying to think of a lighting problem I wanted to solve, two ideas kinda came together.

I’d read an article in the summer about the future of ambient light in automobiles (apparently the use is going to explode, since visual awareness of the interior really reduces night driving anxiety – and the resulting wrecks), and thought the idea would be innovative in a desk lamp – and less anxiety would be useful.

I’d like a light that hides, doesn’t take up desk space, and can illuminate my keyboard (since “loft” means “no doors” – ha, and Luey is an early-rising farm girl).

So, I submitted an ambient light desk lamp that attaches under a computer monitor.

5. Had you tried to make this thing on your own already?

No.

6. What do you think of the final product?

It’s great! It’s a desk light that’s off the desk, the community added great ideas, and Jess did a great job with the design. I do miss the colored ambient light function that Quirky edited out, but I think of that as the difference between an amateur dreaming and the pros making a marketable product.

7. In your opinion, what is the most innovative product ever invented?

The switch from analog to digital…and the resulting products.

8. What inspires you?

People’s needs. I’m always trying to fix something – ha.

9. What are some of your quirks?

I always wear wool socks. Always.

10. What’s your favorite cereal? Deli meat?

My favorite cereal is either Rice Chex or Froot Loops, and my favorite deli meat is Ham.

11. Any parting words?

Quirky rocks!