KIT HENDRICKSON in cahoots with
BRYAN BEARD
TRAVEL BAG
ERIC
TRAVELER
29
Regularly flies 2-4 times a week both in the states and abroad.
HOME BASE:
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
COMMUTER Eric is an avid cyclist and when not traveling Eric regularly commutes to the office by bike.
LOVER OF THE OUTDOORS Although Eric loves his job, being away from home can be hard so Eric loves to spend anytime he gets at home relaxing with his wife and dog. Everything from short camping trips to a day hike here and there.
FREELANCE WRITER As a writer for AFAR magazine Eric lives a life that is well versed in work and play. His job regularly takes him half-way around the world and back within a few days. While this may seem all butterflies and rainbows Eric is a hard worker and constantly needs to bring his work with him wherever he goes.
Eric loves backpacks for their functionality but needs a bag that Can match the versatility Of his lifestyle.
THE HUNT After a lot of searching, eric has narrowed his options down to two. However, after reading some reviews he is less than thrilled.
THE AVIATOR
TRAVEL BACK PACK
TIMBUK2
TORTUGA BAGS
Doesn’t fit under airplane seat
Too large for day to day use
Overly complicated pockets
Aesthetics... meh..
Shallow depth
Lacks load lifter straps
Hard to remove laptop
WHAT IF? Being an avid cyclist and generally environmentally conscious guy, Eric has develouped an affinity for Green Guru, an outdoor gear company based in Boulder Colorado. Green guru is constantly striving to be as good to the earth as a bag company can be by using up-cycled materials ans well as sourcing “virgin material” that are produced using recycled plastics. Unfortunately Green Guru doesn’t make a travel bag... Yet! We asked ourselves “what if we could give Eric everything he is looking for in a travel bag all the while keeping his inner tree hugger happy with Green Gurus mission to keep the earth, well, green!”
CONCEPTS
PROTOTYPING
SEAM RIPPERS READY?!
0.
As we struggled through cutting and assembling our first iterations we quickly realized to value of making patterns.As the prototypes progressed we continually altered these Template as needed.
TAKEAWAYS Patterns are good
SEAMSTERS NOT SCENESTERS
1.
2.
3.
Designing for Green Guru we opted to make our second iteration using up cycled banners and bike tubes. After locking down our basic concepts with sketching and brain-storming we hopped on the sewing machines and turned out our first rough prototype out of muslin cloth and some old backpack straps.
TAKEAWAYS
TAKEAWAYS
A taller bag profile may be desirable
Allowing the bag to fully separate instead of just fold open could allow more opportunity to the user
Adding a heavier liner may help with structure
Banner material is not resilient enough for the wear and tear of travel
Using our patterns we began our third prototype made from ballistic nylon, quality hardware as well as a few bike tubes mixed in to maintain Green Guru’s brand Identity.
TAKEAWAYS
More structural material was desirable in the future
Overall length was too tall for shorter users
Use the laser cutter for patch features
Jeep top and bike tubes added excessive weight
Having a “brain” that was not permanently connected to the compression flaps would allow a more personalized product
PROTOTYPE 4 STAND-BY TRAVEL BAG SYSTEM
THE “ORGANIZER” “BRIEF”
THE THE THE “MAIN “BRIEF” “STUFF BAG” SACK”
THE THE THE“MAIN “STUFF “ORGANIZER” BAG” SACK”
THE THE“ORGANIZER” “BRIEF”
A Ideal padded for desired laptop case in-flight stacked items, the with “brief” pockets canfor beall your kept little close goodies; by without pens, hard needing drives, to keep power a full converters carry-on atand the chargers. travelers feet. Easily The brief removed can beorcarried added in to a either standard bag. shoulder-strap The organizerstyle keeps or as athings cross-strap right where messenger they belong.
Functions independently, and Ideal for desired in-flight Easily attached for more makes for a“brief” great day items, thepacking cantrip be initial room or left companion, bewithout it hiking, kept closeand by empty added on further riding bike around town or needing to keep a accommodate full intoa the trip to exploring a new city. carry-on theastravelers feet. items at such new clothes, Thesouvenirs brief canetc. be carried in afor Also great standard shoulder-strap style toiletries, socks or any other or as a cross-strap “stuff” you maymessenger need.
Functions independently, and A padded laptopfor case Easily attached more makes forpacking awith great day trip stacked pockets all initial room orfor left companion, it hiking, your little goodies; empty andbe added onpens, further riding bike around town or hardathe drives, power into trip to accommodate exploring a new city. converters and chargers. items such as new clothes, Easily removed or added to souvenirs etc. Also great for either bag.socks The organizer toiletries, or any other keeps things right where “stuff” you may need. they belong.
A Ideal padded forlaptop desiredcase in-flight stacked items, with the “brief” pocketscan forbe all your keptlittle closegoodies; by without pens, hard needing drives, to power keep a full converters carry-on at and thechargers. travelers feet. Easily The brief removed can be or added carriedtoin a either standard bag.shoulder-strap The organizer style keeps or as things a cross-strap right where messenger they belong.
WE HOPE YOU’VE ENJOYED YOUR JOURNEY, THANKS FOR FLYING
KIT HENDRICKSON
KITHENDRICKSON@GMAIL.COM 720-921-6746