Week 4 – w/c 21/1/19
Sharing Concepts
After ideating and sketching multiple concepts of bags which could be worn by a skater on the upper body/torso, experimenting with multiple different forms and sizes, we all got together and showed our designs. We explained specific features, such as pockets, zip placements and ways the bag could be adjusted to fit the user. Each of us were able to give verbal feedback, pointing out aspects that we liked in terms of ergonomics as well as aesthetics, but also comment on and query design features.
Combining/Choosing an Idea
Once we had looked at everyone’s designs, we picked one of the fashion students designs, which was similar to one of mine, it had compact storage compartment and multiple straps to hold it close to the user’s body. This design also followed the current fashion trend of cross body/bum bags, as these are becoming ever more popular and almost an essential to a street-wear outfit.
The bag concept was in the form of a small rectangle with a zip located on the front of it, which was located on the upper torso of a person’s body. Connected to the small storage compartment were a series of three straps, one going from the shoulder to the waist, one around the waist attached to the bottom of the shoulder strap, and another horizontally across at the bags height. These would ensure the bag would stay flush to the user’s body and not move about when the user moving, for example when skating.
I liked the overall simplistic form of the bag, it being based off a rectangle, however I raised the issue of the corners of the bag, as they had not been rounded off, this would pose a potential risk of the user stabbing themselves on the corner if they twisted their body or landed awkwardly on the bag. To prevent this, I suggested rounding the corners slightly, which prevent this, but also would not take away for the distinct form.
Zip
To access the storage the other students suggested putting the zip on one side of the bag as it would not take away/break up the bags consistent and clean aesthetic.
I felt like the bag needed something on the outside, rather than it just being a flat shape, as one of my designs had a semicircle pocket included in it, which seemed to make the design more interesting. I experimented with different pocket forms at different angles and came up with a rectangular shaped pocket that which gradually sloping sides, adding this to the design would not affect the ergonomics of the bag as it still is somewhat flush and so would not add/create another risk.
As there were now two main parts to the bag the main compartment and the pocket, we thought about using two different prints one for each part. The textiles student came up with two different patterns, one a floral print and the other a repetitive triangle print.
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