YOU NEED TO WATCH IT

Baby Monitor Rendarrrz

Bicycle Hand Brake Breakdown (Round 2)

Bicycle Hand Brake Breakdown

BOARDS AND UPDATED PROBLEM STATEMENT

The above images are the boards I presented in studio today. I basically laid out why the standard backpack is inappropriate for school and totally inappropriate for a day of sport climbing at the Red River Gorge. I established the components and materials my pack will be made of and addressed which features are most essential. The design is far from locked down. At this point I know which problems I need to address and I have a general idea of how I want to fix them. 

The main failures are: 

unnecessarily heavy 

no place to store quick-draws

no place to store rope 

inconvenient/slow access 

unsustainable materials 

inadequate support

no water storage

My updated problem statement: 

Design a backpack that is perfect for a day of sport climbing at the Red River Gorge in Kentucky. Help the climber organize their rope, quick-draws, shoes, chalk, harness,water, and snacks. Make everything easy to access and provide good support for the short, but sometimes steep scramble-style ascents. 

I want the pack to be light enough and versatile enough that it would appeal to the user as a backpack they could also utilize on an average day taking supplies back and forth to school or going to the park. 

Specifically, the following features are my main concerns:

sustainability- recyclable, recycled, biodegradable, and local materials 

rope storage (including water proof tarp that is light and hassle-free)

daisy chains 

light chest/hip strap

compression straps 

big mesh side pockets 

hydration system compatibility 

variety of compartment sizes 

padded shoulder straps 

I also made a list of all of the necessary materials as far as I can tell at this point. 

1", 3/4" webbing

1", 3/4" snaps 

3/4" adjusters 

200 denier nylon 

400 denier nylon 

waterproof lycra/nylon blend 

3/4", 3/8" elastic 

3mm neoprene wetsuit material

heavy duty nylon thread 

elastic mesh 

hydration system tube snap

water tight zipper, 17" - 20" 

1/8" nylon chord 

PRO-QUALITY NYLON BY THE YARD

I came across this website, a self described specialized textile outfitter, that lets you order anything from webbing to 70 denier polyester blends to 1000 denier Cordura. It's super cool...this is the stuff the best quality bags you buy at the store are made of. I ordered some nylon thread, a 400 denier color sample packet, a yard of white 400d, and a yd of black 400d. I'm planning on putting together my first bag with this stuff as soon as it arrives. Cordura is bulkier than other nylons, but it's sturdy and water resistant. 400d feels thick and quality without being too heavy.

 I'll be sure to post pictures of the process and final, but in the meantime here are some sketches of what I'll be shooting for with the bag. I plan on working out a good deal of joinery and pattern making issues this time around. It may not be the most beautiful backpack, but it will definitely be some good learnin for down the road when I'm doing more precision models.

The issue with utilizing these materials is they are not locally made--a goal that I have for the pack. I will be looking around for a regional provider of similar fabrics. Hmmmm...

WHATS THE BIG IDEA

This quarter I'll be diving head-first into designing a daypack. Below is the problem statement a crafted to identify my main areas of emphasis and direction. Basically, a backpack should be appropriate to use for work and play, be awesome enough to be worth taking good care of, and be made of sustainable materials. Check it out! 

Design a mid-size daypack (900 to 2000 cubic inches) that is appropriate for a daylong hike and also daily life. It should account for a laptop, a nalgene sized water bottle, frequent and easy access to compartments of a wide size range. Provide enough support to comfortably hold 15 pounds. Incorporate a maximum amount of sustainable, recycled, recyclable, local, and biodegradable materials. Additionally, be wary of excessive features that add to weight and use of materials, but do not necessarily improve the product in the practical sense. Simple. Versatile. Sustainable. Quality.