Self-Directed Project Report Wetsuit-Bag
James Hadley
Contents Introduction 1 Primary Research 3 Secondary Research 11 Project Report 13 Future Analysis 25 List of References 27 Appendix 29
Introduction
This report is a summary of the work and research that I have completed for the Self Directed Project. The report starts with a summary of the primary research that was conducted, looking at immersive experience through learning to surf and user interviews that were conducted. The secondary research contains list a universal set of rules that are recognised throughout the surf community and supports the rationale behind the final design. The project report is a brief summary of the stages that the design went through to develop into its final concept. The final part of the document is an analysis of the design and areas that it could be developed in future.
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Primary Research
Immersive Research My immersive research comprised of asking a course-mate who surfed if he would teach me, through this activity (and me buying a wetsuit) I gained access and understanding into the surfing world in Cornwall. I learnt three things from my experience surfing with Joel: •
Buy a bucket to store my wet suit in
•
Always rinse and soak a wetsuit in fresh water after every surf and let it dry
•
Washing your wetsuit is a awkward and gets sand everywhere
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A Day Surfing
Pack and head to the beach
Get changed
Throw everything wet into the bucket and head home
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Wash and soak the wetsuits in the bath (get it full of sand)
Grab the board and head for the water
When you get back, get changed in your bucket
Hang the wetsuits up to dry
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Initial User Interviews The user interviews were conducted by going to a beach with a good surf report and intercepting surfers. It is worth noting that the research was conducted in winter which is a season that is represented by a more ‘serious’ side of the surfing community.
For the question “Do you clean your wetsuit after use?” (which is advised by the manufactures to extent its lifetime), it was found that only 67% of the interviewed user group rinsed their wetsuit with 22% answering sometimes and 11% answer never (see pie chart below).
The user group where asked seven questions, asked to sign a research consent form and where given a letter of explanation (see appendix one, two and three). Out of the sample that was interviewed it was found that everyone interviewed wore a wetsuit surfing.
It was also found that the user groups had improvised a number of methods for cleaning their wetsuits; however what was most alarming was that a number of them had taken to putting their wetsuits in the washing. This is terrible practice and drastically reduces the lifespan of a wetsuit.
Do you stand on something when you get changed?
No 11%
Yes 89%
Do you rinse your wetsuit after use?
No 11%
It was also found that a majority of the users liked the idea of a system that makes caring for their wetsuits easier, and that the ‘effort’ of currently looking after their wetsuits was what contributed to so many not rinsing it after every use.
Sometimes 22% Yes 67%
All but one of the users interviewed where in favour of a backpack shaped bag It was found that 89% of the user group stood on something when they got changed and that it was often the thing the stored their wetsuit in. e.g. their bucket. With this in mind it will be important to develop a solution that appreciates this.
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33% of
Surfers don’t rinse their wetsuits 7
It was photographically documented through the course of the interviews that many of the users had improvised a number of ill-suited objects to carry and store their wetsuits in. The most popular of these methods was a gardening bucket, often sold in hardware stores. Surfers use their bucket for all sorts of tasks, caring, washing and even getting changed in.
Example of the most popular bucket chosen by surfers
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Secondary Research
Wetsuit Care There are lots on the internet about how to look after your wetsuit and lots of chemicals and soaps for cleaning when the smell from you not looking after it gets too much. A popular brand, possible due to its edgy name is “piss-off” that is manufactured by Rip curl. There are some generally excepted rules (a bit tongue in cheek) about how to look after you’re wetsuit and they have been highlighted as follows and reproduced by a number of websites: 1. HOT WATER RUINS NEOPRENE In hot water neoprene looses some of the flexibility, so if you like to change in your shower after a cold water session take of your wetsuit first, then soak yourself in warmth. 2. SUN & UV RAYS AGE NEOPRENE Do not leave your wetsuit on the sun! Sun is the neoprene worst enemy. Dry your wetsuit in the shadow if you can. UV rays cause the neoprene to age much quicker, it gets hard and looses its flexibility. 3. HOT TRUNK IS NOT A GOOD PLACE FOR A WETSUIT Do not leave you wettie in the trunk of your car in a parking lot on a hot day. Cooking wetsuits can’t be good, raw are much better. 4. DRY YOUR WETSUIT INSIDE OUT Dry your wetsuit inside out. So you will keep the flexibility of the outer side and if the wetsuit is not completely dry when you are putting it on – you will still crawl into a drier side. 5. STORE IT NICELY Store your wetsuit on flat surface or wide coat hanger. Do not mesh it into a small drawer. It says so in the wetsuit instructions for a reason. 6. CLEAN AND DRY YOUR WETSUIT QUICKLY Do not leave you wet wetsuit to rot inside a bag, box wherever… all messy and sandy. Clean it and dry it. Regular care ands quite some time to the wetsuit lifespan. 7. THE MESSY DRESSING RULE A wet wetsuit full of sand and mud is a riot to put on (not really). So when taking it off, stand on grass, on a rock, pavement, telephone booth, wetsuit changing bag, hotel carpet… just not in the middle of the sandy beach (or wash it out in the sea after you change). 8. WASHING MACHINE NO NO You do not wash you wetsuit in the washing machine and dry it in a dryer! So keep you mum, wife or girlfriend away from your dirty wetsuit. Clean it yourself. 9. IRONING? YOU ARE KIDDING, RIGHT? It is not very wise to iron your wetsuit. Duh! Just by the look of it you can assume that rubbery stuff is not the place to put your hot iron. But still, this is the standard warning in the wetsuit instructions. 10. MY WETSUIT STINKS If your wetsuit stinks to much, above average smell is usually there because you left you wet wetsuit in a plastic bag for a while and you did not wash it right
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Project Report
Initial Ideas After the initial research was conducted, the project progress from some initial sketches as show below. In particular, ideas like having a mat to stand on and a role top canoe clip style bag to keep the back easy to access and water tight where explore at this stage.
relatively early in the project with idea of washing the wetsuit in the bag by filling it with water through one plug, letting it soak and then drain it through a plug in the bottom of the bag.
However the main function of the bag was to make rinsing your wetsuit easier and if possible negate having to use the bath or the shower. The solution was struck upon
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Further Development of Initial Ideas
Ideas on function, such as being able to hang the bag up to dry and prototyping, adapting existing bags to test the function where looked at during this stage.
Four refined initial ideas where presented to a focus group, to decide on the aesthetical direction of the project. The focus group chose by majority bag style one (highlighted).
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Development of Colours Once the preliminary shapes and function of the bag was decided on I developed the colour styling of the bag through a discuss with Gemma a textile student who had expertise on the current colour trends of the surf community and recommend a ‘charcoal grey’ with ‘electric blue highlights’ with this in mind the new colour scheme for the bag was developed.
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Details Development With the colour and general shape of the bag worked out, development of the details began, looking at the strap buckle and the plug holes that would be used for draining the bag. A number of solutions where looked at, including a cap that had a handle like a tap. However it was decided that this solution although being the easiest to handle would have a profile that stuck out from the bag and might get caught. Instead the solution that was developed (shown in the bottom right render) offers a good compromise for its low profile (level with the bag surface) and it ease in handling.
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Prototyping In the final stages of development, prototypes where made to create the shape of the bag and produce a pattern for it and to test the concept of filling a bag with water to see how it would behave. This was done in two stages, First adapting a small plastic zip-lock bag (by taping the corners to adjust its shape) and then by modifying an existing bag to test the drainage concept.
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Final Concept the
The Limpet 69 is a bag that enables surfers to carry all their belongings to and from the beach, either on their back or in the car. The top pocket is large enough to store anything that you’d want to keep dry with the bottom section of the bag being similar to a roll top canoe bag to store anything wet. The bag also has a pull out mat to get changed on for those sandy beaches and gravel car parks. The innovation of the bag is the two screw cap plugs that allow you to fill the bag up with water and let it drain out to clean your wetsuit with ease. There is then a hook on the bottom of the bag so that it can be hung up to dry. The ultimate aim of the bag is to allow surfers to maintain their gear with greater
Limpet 69 litres
K e e p
y o u r
l i f e
c l o s e
fact that is a belongs to a group of species called bi-valves representing the two valves on the bag and that we wanted to represent the idea that the bag should be fit snug and comfortable like a limpet on a rock. The 69 was chosen to represent its carrying capacity, the number also has edgy connotation to represent other branding and marketing techniques used by the surf community like “sex-wax” and “pissoff”.
The bag will be made from PUCoated Cordura with taped seams which allows the bag to be completely water tight when rinsing and storing your wetsuits. The Cordura also makes the bag super tough.
A New Day Surfing
Throw your wetsuit into the bag and set off for the surf
After the surf pack up and head home
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The name Limpet 69 was chosen during a focus group for its connotations with the sea, the
Once back, fill the bag full of water and let it soak (as advised by wetsuit manufacturers)
Then empty the bag and throw it all on the line to dry. Easy!
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Future Analysis
Future Developments In this section of the report I have highlighted three areas of the design that could be developed for future business ventures or to make the design more sustainable.
1. Improved Sustainable Materials
Due to restraints in time and the number of appropriate material options available it was not possible to research and develop appropriate sustainable materials to make the bag from. Although the bag does meet the sustainable criteria of making the users wetsuit last longer, it is compromised by its own un-sustainable materials. The next logical development of this bag is to make it from more sustainably sourced fabrics that are as tough and waterproof.
2. Gender Options
The current designed aesthetic of the bag is overtly masculine, and this is something that women often commented on in the focus groups. Therefore a second more feminine bag should be produced to prevent this exclusion.
3. Future Proof Aesthetic
The current aesthetics of the bag share similar properties in colour and shape of other bags that are trending in fashion in other sports at the moment. Acknowledging that surf fashion is constantly evolving this design will outdate. To prevent this it is important that a more sustainable future proof aesthetic is developed for the bag to prevent it prematurely being replaced. One way to do this could be to embrace a ‘retro’ style.
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List of References
360guide, 2012. Wetsuit Care. [online] Available at: <http://360guide.info/wetsuits/wetsuit-care-13-tips.html> [Accessed 16 May 2012]. Gear for Multisport, 2012. Wetsuits Care. [online] Avaible at <http://www.clermonttristore.com/wetsuitcare.pdf> [Accessed 16 May 2012]. Rip Curl, 2012. Piss Off. [online] Available at: <http://ripcurl. com/index.php?aid=6137> [Accessed 16 May 2012]. Wetsuitwearhouse, 2012. How to Care for a Wetsuit. [online] Available at: <http://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/ wetsuitinfo/index.php/how-to-articles/how-to-care-for-awetsuit/> [Accessed 16 May 2012].
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Appedix
One Questionnaire Q1. Do you wear a wetsuit when you go surfing?
Q2. Do you rinse your wetsuit after use?
Q3. Can you describe how you go about rinsing your wetsuit?
Q4. Would you be interested in a solution that made rinsing and storing your wetsuit easier?
Q5. Do you normally stand on something e.g. a board-bag when getting changed?
Q6. Please circle below the style of bag that you would be most comfortable carrying your wetsuit around in.
Other please describe?
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Two
Three
Wetsuit Storage Research Consent Form NOTE: This consent form is to be retained by the student and kept secure. At the completion of the unit it will be disposed of in a secure fashion. Students may be asked by the Director of Studies to provide this form as proof that consent has been obtained. I agree to take part in the University College Falmouth research project specified above. I have had the project explained to me, and I have read the explanatory statement, which I keep for my records. I understand that agreeing to take part means that I am willing to:
Answer questions about some aspects of my surfing habits Allow photographic documentation
I agree to be interviewed by the researcher
□ Yes
□No
Explanatory Statement: Wetsuit Storage Abstract for Project: The project is to create an innovative storage device/bag that will be aimed at watersports enthusiast/surfers who need an appropriate product to store their wet and salty sport apparel in. Currently many surfers, wake boarders and kayakers store their wet gear in improvised containers that are often made from unsustainable materials; wetsuits being stored in make shift plastic boxes or rubber gardening buckets.
I understand that my participation is voluntary, that I can choose not to participate in any part or the entire project, and that I can withdraw at any stage of the project without being penalised of disadvantaged in any way.
The use of makeshift containers to store wetsuits leads to them being left wet and salty; this drastically shortens its life. With some wetsuits costing up to £400 and only “lasting a season” it is important that a wetsuit is properly maintained.
I understand that any data that the student extracts from the interview or use in reports will not, under any circumstances, contain names or identifying characteristics.
This project aims through a user-centred design approach to create a product that appeals and can be used by surfers to store their wet kit in an innovative way.
I understand that any information I provide is confidential, and that no information could lead to the identification of any individual will be disclosed in any reports on the project, or to any other party. I understand that reports based on the interview(s) will be kept in secure storage. Participant’s Name: Signature:
Why Your Participation is Important: By participation in this research it is your views, opinions and habits that are going to help shape and define this new product that will help make your surfing experience better.
Date: Interviewer’s Name: James Hadley
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