Backpack Design: The Original Plan
Abstract:
In my four years of industrial design, I have dialed in on a particular interest in soft good design. This is my first semester working at a co-op in non-footwear soft goods, and I want to turn my co-op experience into something more personal. For this experience, I’m going to pick a brand that my co-op works with, and I’m going to design a backpack that solves a problem in that chosen field. I’m going to use what I learn at work in this project. As of right now, I plan to make a backpack for a specific type of skier. I chose this persona because I am particularly passionate about skiing, and specifically, heli-skiing. My goals are to get more experience in sewing and have a greater understanding of backpack construction. My timeline for this experience is three months long. I will have it completed by the time my co-op ends on April 28th. As I make progress, I plan on getting feedback and suggestions from my coworkers who have been doing this for 15+ years.
Ongoing Reflection:
My on-going reflection will be a collection of sketches, mock-ups and journal entries to track my methods and design process. Reflection topics will include: the efficacy of collaboration, new sewing techniques and methods that I’m researching, new ideas brought up by my coworkers, ideas to explore as a result of collaboration, new construction methods, problems/issues that arise and how I work around them, the design method – how my initial idea changed from start to finish as I continued learning and trying new things.
Sharing My Learning:
While the majority of my project is about backpack design and sewing, there’s another layer of design collaboration that’s important to address. In order to share my learning, I want to start an online forum or physical meeting space/time where DAAP students can come together on campus or online to share their work, share what skills they learned on co-op, give feedback on other student’s projects, ask for guidance/suggestions, get inspiration, and make collaborative connections. A big part of this honors experience involves personal growth for me – learning how to go to other people, ask for suggestions, and let my work be incredibly vulnerable. I think that’s a scary thing for a lot of DAAP students. Furthermore, I think DAAP students would appreciate having a place where they can share their learning without feeling like they’re bragging about their co-ops.
Here's What Actually Happened
A Quick Summary of How This Semester Unfolded:
I began this co-op semester with two main goals in mind: Improve my sketching, and gain a better understanding of sewing and construction techniques. The abstract mentioned above turned out to be a great exercise in sketching. I learned from everyone in my office, and even went in to work on days when I was unpaid just so I could sit there and sketch and get feedback. As the semester progressed, it became clear that I wouldn't have enough time in the semester to take my project from sketch to sample, so I started a separate backpack project on my own time - weeknights and weekends became devoted to this project. I decided to use the construction techniques I learned at work to design and sew a line of three bags. Those bags each use elements that I implemented in my heli-skiing backpack, but in a more manageable and constructible way - since I wouldn't have access to a commercial machine/factory. While I still planned to share my learning as stated above, my abstract and ongoing reflection needed a bit of updating.
Ongoing Reflection:
Goal Number One: Improve my Sketching
There are pros and cons to having a new drawing professor every year. One pro is that you get to learn a bunch of new ways to sketch. Unfortunately for me, that means that my sketching style changed every four months. I got to a point where I had totally lost my personal style in my sketches, and it was showing in my portfolio. Below, you'll find a slideshow showing the progression of my sketches from January through April.
There are pros and cons to having a new drawing professor every year. One pro is that you get to learn a bunch of new ways to sketch. Unfortunately for me, that means that my sketching style changed every four months. I got to a point where I had totally lost my personal style in my sketches, and it was showing in my portfolio. Below, you'll find a slideshow showing the progression of my sketches from January through April.
Goal Number Two: Gain a Better Understanding of Sewing and Construction Techniques
When it comes to sewing and construction, I am completely self-taught. In the last couple weeks of 2015, I taught myself how to sew, and specifically how to sew with leather. I made my first leather backpack, and didn't touch a sewing machine again until this past January. Technically, these bags are my second, third, and fourth sewing projects. Below, you'll find a slideshow of the three bags I made.
When it comes to sewing and construction, I am completely self-taught. In the last couple weeks of 2015, I taught myself how to sew, and specifically how to sew with leather. I made my first leather backpack, and didn't touch a sewing machine again until this past January. Technically, these bags are my second, third, and fourth sewing projects. Below, you'll find a slideshow of the three bags I made.
Sharing My Learning:
I originally planned to create an online site to share with the DAAP Community where students could submit discussion questions, photos of their work for feedback, text posts about their co-ops, etc. That didn't go quite as planned. In conversations with my classmates, it was becoming difficult to find an online platform that would support all of the things I'd like to do. My new plan is to continue sharing my learning by teaching my classmates how to sew. This past weekend, I taught one of my classmates how to sew a shirt, and I've been helping out a lot in my basic sewing studio.