“It started as a fandom…” Orbitkey’s Co-Founder, Rex Kuo, discusses Disney carry, work, and travel accessories

Rex, huge thanks for making time! What’s your role at Orbitkey?
I’m one of the Co-Founders. My role centres on shaping the creative vision behind our products and partnerships. I work closely with our design team to create organisational tools that bring calm to the everyday. At Orbitkey, we believe good design has the power to simplify life and make space for what truly matters.

Great intro, thank you. And what kind of products does Orbitkey create?
We design organisational accessories for everyday carry, work, and travel. The goal is to remove the mental overhead of carrying essentials so people can focus on what matters. With Disney, for example, we’re intentional about creating premium, long-lasting products that are genuinely useful. As a Disney collector myself, I know many Disney items in the market are collectibles that live on a shelf. We wanted pieces that blend nostalgia with function, built to be carried every day.

You say that you’re a collector of Disney yourself… Does that connect to how you got into licensing?
It started as genuine fandom, yes. To this day, we reach out when we believe our design approach can add value to an IP. Many of our partnerships have grown organically. In the early days, a limited-edition Monocle magazine run of Australian-made, kangaroo-leather key organisers gave us confidence. With National Geographic, we then explored cactus leather… We created packaging that referenced stars, mountains, and ocean topography. Partnering with Marie Kondo helped us speak to a broader female audience while staying true to our organised-life ethos. Disney brought it full circle.

Let’s talk about that! I understand working with Disney fulfils a childhood dream. How so?
The Lion King was the first Disney film I watched, so Disney has always held a special place in our hearts. What I love about Disney is the breadth of characters that people can see themselves in. In fact, my wife and I spent our honeymoon at Disney World in Florida. Now, with kids, we’re able to share the same films, characters and values with them. That sense of nostalgia and shared joy mirrors our community.

Your customers?
Right. Many of our customers are now young parents themselves, visiting Disney parks with their families, carrying Orbitkey Slings as part of their ‘matching moments’. It’s beautiful to see our products becoming part of those stories.

You mentioned values… What values unite the brands with whom you work? What have Disney, National Geographic and Marie Kondo got in common?
On the surface, these brands may seem worlds apart, but they’re united by intention. Each puts a value on communities built on trust and care, storytelling that connects emotionally and design that serves a purpose. They share a belief that even the smallest detail can elevate an experience and that’s something we really value at Orbitkey too.

Great answer! I love that… And are there any directions in which you would like to head next?
Looking ahead, we’d love to see our Disney collections available in Disney retail spaces. We’ve been humbled by the response so far… We’re seeing Orbitkey Disney products organically appear in Disney parks around the world, shared by guests online and embraced by families who love expressing their connection to the characters in subtle, everyday ways.

And why is that, do you think? Why do your products naturally fit the Disney retail environment?
Our products naturally fit the Disney retail environment because they bridge design and emotion, I think. They’re premium, functional accessories that celebrate nostalgia while complementing Disney’s commitment to craftsmanship and storytelling. Guests aren’t just buying a souvenir, they’re taking home something they can use and carry every day, a tangible reminder of their Disney experience that’s built to last.

Perfect. To wrap this up, Rex, what’s the one question I could’ve asked you today but didn’t?
You’ve covered most of our behind the scenes of this campaign… Something I’d like to have talked about is how we approach creative strategy for licensed design.

And now do you approach creative strategy for licensed design?
When working with an IP, the easy path is to place a logo on a product. We prefer to design from the inside out; to tell a story through subtle details that invite discovery. For Disney, that meant subtle character signatures, custom colour palettes and lining patterns that reveal themselves only when you look closely.

Also, we design for two kinds of fans. First, there’s the everyday user who appreciates elegance and function. Then there’s the true collector who delights in finding an Easter egg that no one else has noticed. It’s about crafting products that feel special not just because of the brand they carry, but also because of the thought and heart in them.

Fantastic. Thank you so much, Rex.