Modular design that switches from backpack to briefcase

object.01 transitions seamlessly between the many contexts of a freelance worker's day by  providing two distinct carry modes: backpack and briefcase. While biking through the city or commuting on the train, object.01 can be used in backpack mode for comfort and ease of carry. When stepping into a client meeting and the need for a more professional look is desired, object.01's backpack straps can be easily removed and stowed in the back panel, turning it to a briefcase which can be carried by its side handle.

Two primary compartments: Office and Personal

object.01's rear compartment folds open completely to act as your office with a laptop sleeve, a document pocket, and two removable pouches for small and large office essentials. The front compartment, accessed through a side zipper, acts as your personal space with room for a change of shoes, books, food items and a small pouch dedicated for frequently accessed items such as keys and a phone.

Unique shape and high quality details

Taking inspiration from traditional briefcases, object.01's rectangular shape is unique to the backpack market and gives it a modern, professional look. Its details are where it particularly stands out; high-density weave nylon used in military applications, waterproof zippers, and polished aluminium hardware give it a premium feel while attracting just the right amount of attention.

Go to object's website to get yours!

objectproducts.com

Thinking more broadly about value creation in the local economy

From early on in the process of developing object, we considered the needs and constraints of local manufacturers, local retailers, and prospective end-users. With the help of the non-profit organization, Design House, we toured and interviewed people at 4 local Chicago manufacturers to understand things like under-utilized capacity, tooling requirements, and minimum order sizes.

Leading a "design jam" brainstorming session which took place at TEAMS Design

Sharing the results and explaining significant concepts from the design jam session

Research on backpacks on the market

Sketching initial ideas

Initial ideas

Creating patterns

Creating a sketch prototype for manufacturer to guide the fabric prototype

Inside view of Chicago Protective Apparel, our manufacturer

Rapid prototyping and user testing

After selecting a manufacturer and a concept direction, working locally enabled our team to quickly create prototypes and iterate based off weekly user-testing. Testing of prototypes was combined with user research to understand modes of work, types of items carried, and the contexts in which the freelancer lives and works. Considering these things in conjunction allowed our team to pivot from our initial direction of a smart-locking pack to a bag designed for the many contexts of the freelance worker lifestyle.

Prototype_1

Ian and Wenxi bringing prototypes to coffee shops to get feedback from independent workers

Testing and selecting hardware

Trip to factory for the third prototype with the new sketch model

Prototyping in progress at the factory

Prototype_3

Working on CMF / Selecting fabrics

Defining specifications and dimensions for final prototype

Final prototype

Creating object the brand

While developing the product, the team worked to create a brand and website for object once the bag went into production. The brand was created around the idea that objects themselves have no inherent meaning, but rather find their meaning in the context of the life of the person using them. Thus, the resulting logo and brand artifacts use black and white color palette with a plain Helvetica typeface. This straightforward, modern aesthetic represents the essence of the city in which object was born, while allowing the brand to fit into almost any context.

Designing and building a pop up shop for "End of the Year Show" to sell first production runs

Creating object the company

The team also worked to create a structure for object the company, including how to obtain funding and set up distribution processes. Working closely with our local manufacturer allowed us to explore multiple options before settling on a Kickstarter campaign and handling distribution through a few, select local retailers. We look forward to the product, brand, and company officially launching in the spring of 2017.

Special thanks to Alexa Stern and Gordon Wells for the photo shoot of the object products