The illustrious Mr. Fleming needs no introduction. An active community member and former User of the Week, Matt is the involved ideator of Wrapster, an idea he originally described as an “Earbud Cord Management Thingy.” Wrapster is now available in the Quirky store for a low price of $6.50, and will hopefully be manufactured and shipped in the next 6-8 weeks.
1. What do you do? (job-wise, ya know, when you’re not on Quirky)
I am a father, and a clinical psychologist in private practice. As a therapist, I spend my time ideating and collaborating with others in an attempt to increase enjoyment and reduce stress in people’s lives. So pretty much the same thing I try to do on Quirky.
2. Where are you from?
Simple question… but hard one to for me to answer. Born in Philly, but grew up in many places because my dad worked for the US State Department (Bangkok, Paris, Nairobi, Manila). Settled down in the Washington, DC, area as a high school senior and have been here ever since.
3. When and how did you think up the idea for Wrapster?
I can’t remember clearly. I think I was inspired by Quirky and Judi’s Mugstir, to try to think of an inexpensive and simple solution to a common problem (to increase the likelihood of having an idea chosen and make pre-order threshold). I also got an iPhone this year, and my first case was the Sidewinder (to manage the cord) but it wasn’t convenient enough for me.
4. Had you tried to make this thing on your own already?
Only a prototype (out of polymer clay) to demo proof-of-concept for the pitch video.
5. From who/where do you derive your creative inspiration?
I can be very emotional, so getting easily frustrated or excited inspires me to ideate. My mind’s high stimulation preferences (looks like ADD) keeps me ideating and iterating. I also look to others and their ideas for inspiration, too (I even started a blog, www.SparkBugg.com, with the tagline “Sharing Bright Ideas,” where I searched for and wrote about cool products and services).
6. What do you wish Quirky did that it does not already?
Slow down a bit more, and increase sustained dialog and collaboration with the community throughout the product development phase. It seems to be happening as we speak (or email, as it were).
7. What’s your favorite deli meat? Cereal?
Right now I am grooving on prosciutto. I eat it with fresh baby spinach and Laughing Cow cheese on an Ok-Mok sesame cracker… yizzy-yummy. (Community Ambassador note: MMMMM… sounds dee-lish.) And I eat Kashi Crunch for breakfast when not eating apple, toasted flaxseeds, and almond butter on whole wheat toast.
8. What are some of your quirks?
I eat ice frequently, especially after meals (to clean my breath, increase water intake, trick my mind into thinking I am still eating food, and incidentally, numb my tongue so I slur like I am tipsy); I sit on a stool while showering; I can only sleep with loud white noise and a pillow between my knees; and I think that the answers to the mysteries of the Great Pyramid are going to blow our collective minds any day now.
