OUR STORY / FROM BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA

Hi, I’m Tom.
It started with a ute.

A family car upgrade. A few everyday frustrations. And an idea I couldn’t leave alone.

I’m the creator behind Draytz Origami, based in Brisbane, Australia.

Greyscale photo of Tom crouching in front of his Ford Ranger on the sand dunes of K’gari — Tom and the Ranger on K'Gari (largest sand island in the world) that became the testing ground for Draytz Origami.

In early 2024, I traded a family sedan for a Ford Ranger. It opened up a world of camping trips, beach tracks and home projects and soon became part of the school run and supermarket shop, too.

The Ranger at a woodland campsite — Weekends outdoors.

The Ranger carrying supplies for a home project — Everyday jobs at home.

I wanted something that made the tub more useful every day, without adding more things to pack. That’s where this story begins.

Follow the journey ↓

THE PROBLEM STATEMENT

More freedom.
A few frustrations.

The ute could take us almost anywhere. Making the most of its space was another story. I wanted a simple, practical design that anyone handy with basic tools could adjust to suit their needs.

Keep cargo within reach.

Groceries and pool supplies slid along the slippery tub liner. Climbing in to retrieve them quickly got old. I wanted a secure divider that could work across the tub, including between the wheel arches.

Render of Draytz Origami installed as a cargo divider in a Ford Ranger tub — Render (AI assisted) of the Divider.

Make loading easier.

Whether it was a wheeled gazebo, a mountain bike or a large four-legged friend, getting them into a high tub isn't always easy. A ramp would help if it was already there when I needed it.

Render of Draytz Origami forming a loading ramp from the ground to a Ford Ranger tailgate — Render (AI assisted) of the Ramp.

Pack less. Do more.

Camping gear fills a tub surprisingly quickly. Bringing a separate table meant finding room for yet another accessory.

Render of Draytz Origami unfolded as a freestanding table beside a lake — Render (AI assisted) of the Table.

A divider. A ramp. A table.
What if one system could do all three?

THE JOURNEY / 2024 TO NOW

An idea is only
the beginning.

From early sketches to sand tracks, each step taught us something for the next.

Early 2024
One ute. Three everyday problems.
After switching from a family sedan to a Ford Ranger, I loved the freedom a ute offered. But cargo slid out of reach, loading heavier gear was awkward, and camping equipment quickly filled the tub. A divider, ramp and table all needed a surface. Could one product do all three?
The idea took shape from my desk at QUT Foundry, Brisbane.
March 2024
Finding the right people to build it.
After speaking with Australian and international firms, I partnered with Morpho to turn the idea into a design, a working prototype and a path towards manufacturing. We started with the practical jobs the product needed to do, then worked through how to combine them.
Mid–late 2024
Design. Refine. Repeat.
Industrial and mechanical design developed together over several iterations. The goal was useful versatility without complicated mechanisms: straightforward adjustments and components that could be sourced or repaired in the field. CAD designs became a bill of materials, with supply-chain feedback shaping the first prototype.
One of the many design iterations before arriving at the current design
Early 2025
The first working prototype.
Manufacturing brought another round of small design changes. Morpho’s engineers assembled and assessed the first prototype, resolving issues with the manufacturers before shipping it to Brisbane. Its temporary logo featured Ollie, my Labrador and unofficial project mascot.
INSIDE THE WORKSHOP
Workshop gallery
February 2025
Out of the workshop. Into everyday life.
The prototype became a regular fixture in my Ranger. Shopping, loading gear and setting up a table showed what worked and where adjustments were needed. I recorded the issues and sent them back to the design team, turning everyday use into the next design brief.
A real prototype, doing the everyday job that started it all.
May 2025
A tougher test on K’gari.
Rough inland tracks, soft sand and coastal conditions put the prototype through a different kind of use. The divider kept the fridge and recovery gear separate from the rest of the load and within reach. The trip gave us practical feedback on how the product behaved away from smooth roads.
Field testing on K’gari with the fridge, cargo and recovery gear.
August–September 2025
Turning lessons into improvements.
Months of regular use informed changes to materials, fitment and component positions. Even the smallest components were upgraded to stainless steel and aerospace-grade aluminium, with strength and corrosion resistance in mind. A key focus was improving divider stability with both C-rail and friction mounting, while making the system easier to adjust and use.
Small components, meaningful improvements to fitment.
October–December 2025
Making the revised components.
After supply-chain feedback, the next components were made for retrofitting to the original prototype body. Parts were 3D printed or machined for this stage, rather than produced with final manufacturing tooling. Workshop checks came before shipping the revised parts to Brisbane.
January 2026
Fit, drive, adjust.
The new parts were fitted and put back into regular use. Stability improved, and a few smaller adjustments were identified for the next design review. This cycle of using it, recording what happens and improving it kept the development grounded in how people actually use a ute.
May 2026
Back to K’gari. Further forward.
A second trip to K’gari put the revised components to the test in demanding off-road conditions. The changes were working well, with a retractable ratchet strap becoming part of my setup for securing a power station and water can. After more than a year of prototype testing and refinement, we were ready for the next stage.
The evolving prototype and the cargo setup used during testing.
May 2026
Protecting the idea.
The design work and supporting documentation came together for a provisional patent application with IP Australia, filed in May 2026. Another milestone in the journey from a personal frustration to a product.

MID 2026 ONWARDS / THE NEXT CHAPTER

Built through testing.
Shaped by what comes next.

Now we’re working with Prelaunch.com to understand what prospective customers need and prepare for the next stage.

Getting here has meant making, using and improving a real working prototype. The next step is market validation: hearing from people who could use Origami and understanding where it fits into their lives.

True validation came on the days I needed my full ute tub for landscaping waste disposal. Whenever I pulled the Draytz out and was slow to put it back in, school bags immediately slid out of reach into the far corners, and my kids would complain, “Why did you take the Draytz out?”
Tom, founder of Draytz

Thanks for following the journey.
Tom