CARRY-ALL BAG FOR CONSTRUCTION TOOLS.
design brief: Fabrication of a new product line for the Firm Grip Brand that expanded its current name into the tool bag market through a cohesive branding approach and user-centric design.
team: J. Hsu, B. Tran, C. Yang
role: Project Manager + Product Designer
BRAND IDENTITY.
Prior to concept development, it was necessary to fully understand the backbone of the Firm Grip Brand. Using their product catalogue and company-provided information, I analyzed their current brand presence to guide the team's future design ideas by constructing and extrapolating information into a brand pyramid.
Our findings were presented and approved at company headquarters.
ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDIES.
As part of user research, our team conducted a site visit on a construction project to understand the environmental context of our tool-bag design. Our interviews with electricians, carpenters, and job managers gave us first-person insight into their opinions on the current tool gear market.
DESIGN CRITERIA.
Multiple brainstorming sessions led to the development of our design criteria, informed by our research insights and analysis of competitor products, with special consideration given to sustainable design practices. Our criteria were divided into categories of Must / Should / Could, to encourage novel idea development.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT.
As the Principal Product Designer, I sketched and ideated over 50 sketches and concepts that focused on bag details and overall form silhouettes. Our team moved forward with my design that expanded to aspects of modularity with removable pouches, flip-out storage space, and aesthetic branding choices via fabric and stitching details.
SUSTAINABILITY.
To bring sustainable practices into our design process, our team partnered with a local research lab and cultivated our own strand of white mushroom onto polyester fabric to use as mushroom leather for our tool bag. Using turmeric dye, we created a yellow finish that adhered to the Firm Grip Brand.
PROTOTYPING.
Using multiple mediums, our team constructed an initial paper model to mock out final fabric dimensions with sewing tolerances. Our cardboard model tested the durability and sizing, with construction tools used to represent use in a realistic environment.
FABRICATION PACKAGE.
Our team's final deliverables to Firm Grip included our official tech-pack set to industry fabrication standards. Our database built upon our construction of the physical model and included fabric considerations for interior and exterior surfaces.
