The Robert Olodort archive documents the industrial design process from both an inventor's and an entrepreneurial standpoint. The collection shows the development of a concept into a final product through product research, notes, correspondence, sketches, mechanical drawings, and prototypes. It provides valuable insight into how proprietary technology can be monetized by patenting and maintaining company relationships through development, licensing, and purchase agreements. The records also document business operations with financial files, board of directors files, and investor files. While none of the record sets are complete, there is a large enough sampling for a researcher to comprehend the complexity of design and business practices.

The collection is arranged in eight series: Think Outside records, Patents and trademarks, Film Things records, Olodort Design records, Print Things records, California - Samsung cell phone records, Handshake Labs records, and Olodort personal files.

The Think Outside records series is arranged in six subseries: Administrative files, Investor files, Board of Directors files, Financial documents, Contracts and agreements, and Stowaway files.

The Administrative files subseries includes Think Outside's founding documents, such as the business plan, operating agreement, articles of incorporation and by-laws, and business correspondence. There is information on employee benefits, salary, life insurance, and retirement, as well as the employee handbook. There are job descriptions and applications for positions, office leases and property information, and time cards from 1998 and 1999. Planning materials for marketing, strategy, branding, messaging, and company organization and financial planning (e.g., expenses, sales, income) are included. Website documentation includes the registration of domain names, design, and function of the online store, including credit card services and return authorizations.

The Investor files subseries documents the process of obtaining financing from private sources to fund a company. The files date from 1998 to 2004. There is Think Outside's private placement memorandum (PPM), also known as an offering memorandum. PPMs are used by privately held companies to attract investors. The PPM provides potential investors with a way to understand the investment and discloses salient details about the company. On November 1, 1999, Think Outside converted from a limited liability company to a corporation. The change affected securities of ownership to change from membership units to shares of common stock. The files include stock options, common stock authorizations, and investor lists.

The Board of Directors files subseries consists of meeting presentations, meeting minutes, notes, and correspondence between 1998 and 2004. There is some biographical information about the members of the board and their financial agreements with the company. The meeting presentations are hard copies of PowerPoint presentation slides shared at the meeting.

The Financial documents subseries provides a snapshot of the financial operations of Think Outside. There are banking documents relating to loans, lines of credit, promissory notes, and account reconciliations. There are credit card statements, employee expense accounts, and invoices that document the accounts payable activities of the company. Financial reports include month ends or balance sheets, budgets, and audits that show accounts receivable aspects. There is also insurance and taxes documentation.

The Contracts and agreements subseries consists of various business agreements between Think Outside and other companies. There is also correspondence, notes, and company information about business partners or prospective business associates. These accompanying documents show the research and planning behind forming relationships between businesses. The contracts and agreements included are non-disclosures, development agreements, term sheets, license agreements, purchase agreements, statements of work, and consulting or professional service agreements.

A non-disclosure agreement legally binds the signer(s) from making available nonpublic business information, including but not limited to technology, financial forecasts, operations, assets and liabilities, and business strategies. The agreements also protected the sharing of engineering documents, research and development, manuals, reports, sales and marketing plans, software source code, designs, drawings, product information, pricing information, and customer information. Think Outside non-disclosures typically terminated after three years.

Term sheets are an outline of the conditions that both parties will agree to. A term sheet is not as defined as the finalized agreement, but rather gives insight into the development of the agreement. It often still includes vital information related to project evaluation, product definition, and team responsibilities.

Purchase agreements are between the seller (Think Outside) and the manufacturer. The outline the terms and conditions of the number of units produced; the software license; support services; trademark rights; purchase order procedures; pricing; delivery of goods; invoicing; warranty; insurance; and safety, environmental, and exporting legal compliance. Additional information outlined includes product specifications, packaging, and functional requirements. There are several original equipment manufacturer (OEM) purchase agreements.

Consulting agreements, or professional services agreements, define the consultant's deliverables, compensation, billing process, term, warranty, ownership rights, limitation of liability, and confidentiality.

A statement of work (SOW) provides a narrative description of the project's work requirements. It defines a detailed account of project activities, the scope of work, deliverables, timeline, roles and responsibilities, and payment terms.

License and development agreements grant the licensee the right to use and earn revenue from the licensor/owner of the copyrighted or patented material. The agreement outlines the obligations of both parties related to marketing, patents, fees and payments, proprietary rights, confidentiality, and agreement termination.

The Stowaway files subseries consists of drawings, layouts, prototype photographs, prototypes, and meeting notes. There is information about distributors, beta testing, logo design, user guide, reports, and press coverage.

The Patents and trademarks series is arranged into seven subseries: Think Outside patent applications, Think Outside patents, Think Outside patent prior art and competitors, Think Outside intellectual property legal, Think Outside trademarks, Moblissity patent applications, and Simple Matters patent applications.

The Think Outside patent applications subseries is arranged by application suffix (e.g., P###), which roughly corresponds to chronological order. The patent applications provide a lengthy and highly detailed description of the invention, including figures/diagrams. A patent viewer examines the applications, and then the inventor is provided with a response.

The Think Outside patents subseries consists of final copies of patents granted to the company.

The Think Outside patent prior art and competitors subseries consists of patents of similar products. The purpose of the prior art is to demonstrate the patentability of an invention; is demonstrates that the invention is something of use and that it has novelty or is an innovative step.

The Think Outside intellectual property legal subseries consists of legal issues encountered in protecting the intellectual property rights of the Stowaway.

The Think Outside trademarks subseries includes trademark registrations for the United States and foreign countries of Stowaway and Think Outside.

The Moblissity patent applications subseries includes patent information for the Tango wireless headset and the Mambo headphones. There is also information related to business between Moblissity and Qualcomm, consisting of meeting notes and Qualcomm company information. It dates from 2005 to 2013.

The Simple Matters patent applications subseries primarily relates to the Rondo concept watch, a mobile communications device dating from 2013 to 2014.

The Film Things records series documents the development of the editing machine, including a notebook, prototype photographs, a prototype, and foreign and domestic patent applications. There is also a license agreement with Cinema Products. There is some information related to the slide projector and camera lenses Olodort invented. The materials date from 1975 to 1986.

The Olodort Design records series consists of the Bow and Arrow lamp prototype, an Artemide catalog, and designs for an earpiece and a coreless hands-free telephone.

The Print Things records series is arranged in six subseries: Administrative files, Smart Label Printer (SLP) development files, Smart Label Printer (SLP) contracts and agreements, Smart Label Printer (SLP) software development, Smart Label Printer (SLP) patent files, and Postage Meter files. The materials date from 1983 to 1997.

The Administrative files subseries includes logo graphics, the private placement memorandum (PPM), and letters from school students thanking Olodort for speaking to their class about his work.

The Smart Label Printer (SLP) development files subseries includes research, concept development notes, costs, to-do lists, prototype photographs, marketing notes, press coverage, sales literature, and various thermal label printing papers.

The Smart Label Printer (SLP) contracts and agreements subseries includes confidentiality agreements, manufacturing agreements, license agreements, and additional company-related background information, correspondence, and meeting notes for agreement negotiations. There are also files related to royalties from Seiko Instruments.

The Smart Label Printer (SLP) software development subseries consists of system changes, system code, correspondence, testing reports, bug reports, and user guides for Mac, Windows, and DOS.

The Smart Label Printer (SLP) patent files subseries includes patent disclosures, patent applications, and patent infringement issues with Avery and CoStar.

The Postage Meter files subseries contains research related to developing a new postage meter. There is correspondence with the United States Postal Service and legal agreements with engineer Bill Beneson.

The California - Samsung cell phone files series consists of cell phone research and the business relationship with Samsung. There are development and license agreements with Samsung, product articles, and user guides. Olodort's cell phone drawings of products created during his time at Think Outside are included with his cell phone research. There are also photographs and drawings of cell phone products. The materials date from 2000 to 2007.

The Handshake Labs records series dates from 2016 to 2019 and documents the Presto, the Flip, and the beginning of Olodort's work on the Muse, a high-end watch. There are design drawings and prototypes for the Presto, the Flip, and the Muse. There are several trade catalogs from various high-end haute couture watch companies.

The Olodort personal files series consists of Olodort's address books from 1982 and 1985 and datebooks from 1979 to 1986, as well as 1995 and 1996. There are also his business cards from each of his businesses. There are a series of images of his studio taken by professional photographers in 2011, 2014, and 2019. After Olodort's death, his family went to his studio with a cinematographer and documented his equipment, tools, and workspace, sharing memories and explanatory information; some videos are silent.