My talk at Plannercon Europe at the end of October will be 'How to choose or design the perfect planner'. Elements of this post are likely to appear in that talk, which is still being written at the time of the publishing of this post!
Over the years if you look through the Filofax catalogues we have in our collection, there have been numerous designs of Filofax organisers. Each design is slightly different to the others. Yes they have some common features, but in general Filofax have tried to make them as different as possible.
Occasionally I discover a design that really appeals to me because of some small detail that has been included in the design of the organiser.
So my subject for this post is the humble Filofax Fusion Personal size from 2013-2014. I've had a 'few' of these, given them away as prizes etc. I reacquired one because there was something about it that I liked.
The Personal size retailed at the time at £40, it is made in a mixture of a microfibre material with the strap closure in full grain leather. Now you might easily look past this organiser which came in Personal and A5 as just another 'non-leather' one.
It looks fairly smart, the exterior is fairly indestructible. I am sure it would survive being chucked in to a backpack, the occasional rain shower without looking any worse for wear.
Now the clever bits of the design...
Notice on the front outside cover there are two pockets that could take an i.d. pass or ticket or business card and be accessible without opening up the organiser or even undoing the strap.
On the rear cover there is a full height outside pocket, you do have to undo the strap on this one to gain access to it, but you don't have to open the organiser.
Then on the inside front cover there is a slot that can take a modern smart phone, shown here with my iPhone 6 in its cover. The phone pocket is gusseted so it expands to easily take the phone.
And the strap closure has more then enough length it easily copes with the extra bulk of having the phone inside as well as a full set of inserts.
Small details, but for me they make quite an inexpensive organiser a useful day to day planning/organisational tool.
Just about the only thing I have ever won in a competition was here! It was the sample model of the new Fusion when first launched almost 5 years ago.
ReplyDeleteI’m just the sort of user that you refer to - escape on a long train journey, organiser thrown in rucksack and off to the hills! I love the Fusion tough durability and the useful front and back pockets plus the notepad holder inside. Above all, it’s a rare breed these days - an organiser that can appeal to men as well as women. No pastel colours, no flowery patterns and no nod to any passing fashion - just a good, solid, timeless yet dependable companion - and, after nearly 5 years, still a regular tool in my life!
I'm very much a lover of leather filofaxes and the quality they provide as well as functionality. I do however have a penchant for the fusion and graphic models which plenty of great design, lots of pockets and cost considerably less than a leather organiser. Funnily enough I bought a personal sized fusion only last week, I haven't set it up yet but it already feels like a favourite!
ReplyDeleteYes, making a list of must-have features for a perfect organiser is one of the things I wanted to get done before Plannercon. I like my Staples Arc, for example, because there are no pockets or creases on the inside back cover so I can write in it without having to negotiate any lumps in the paper; and my Filofax Cuban Zip has an outside pocket with a light magnetic closure which is incredibly useful for accessing papers without having to unzip the organiser. It also has two pen rings, quite a rarity these days ...
ReplyDeleteI've got this one in a black A5. It was love at first sight. It is a wonderful layout. And indeed very resistant to wear and tear. Cna't wait for your talk, Steve.
ReplyDeleteLike the Filofaxist, I'm also quite partial to the leather Filofaxes, but I was only thinking the other day that I could happily see myself using a Fusion. I'd buy one if I wasn't so content with my Winchester.
ReplyDeleteI’ve never considered the Fusion, because I feel like the fabric models are not something I would be willing to produce in a meeting with a client, but I cannot deny the functionality. The many individual requirements of users demand that multiple designs should be available. This has always been the historical advantage of Filofax.
ReplyDeleteI’ve never considered the Fusion, because I feel like the fabric models are not something I would be willing to produce in a meeting with a client, but I cannot deny the functionality. The many individual requirements of users demand that multiple designs should be available. This has always been the historical advantage of Filofax.
ReplyDeleteNice one Steve! I agree the fusion is a mighty good package and looks good too.
ReplyDeleteI saw this one for sale in the UK shop Home Sense,just this week, in black,personal size.I dithered about whether to buy it as a Christmas gift,thinking leather may be more smart, and now they've sold on out. Hopefully they'll get more stock in coming up to Christmas, still dithering here, but just a heads up really for those with a Home Sense or its sister store TK Maxx near to their homes, who want this particular design.
ReplyDeleteFor me definitely leather, and A5 size -although planning to get a smaller one either personal or pocket size-. Still jumping between my Boston and Flex Lizard. Both have advantages. Like the Boston's versatility, but Flex is edge in size especially when I use it as cover for a notebook.
ReplyDelete