KNOUNIDESIGNS.
by Stepan Knouni
The suitcase of a Modern Traveler
This project addresses the problem of packing and unpacking a suitcase in a more efficient manner. Through prototyping, experimentation and feedback a new suitcase was designed. Its purpose is to become a part of your closet that can transform to take along to your trips. The suitcase is simple and elegant since it is not meant to be packed before every trip but rather act as an insert to your closet.
This project targeted the improvement of one of my own personal rituals, traveling.
Project Overview
Since I am an international student, traveling between my home country and USA has been a trip that I do at least 4 times a year. Throughout the year and especially during the summer, I do a lot of traveling and visit new places in Europe or Greece. Traveling is a big part of my life and therefore I have to pack and unpack a suitcase quite often.
Main Problem: The way suitcases are packed and unpacked is time consuming and inefcient
The initial idea was to design a suit- case with shelves and an integrated rack for hanging clothes. Its purpose is to become a part of your closet that can transform to take along to your trips.
A working prototype was the made to test out the concept with actual clothes. The prototype was even used for a couple of days to test out the convenience or inconvenience of the shelves.
Testing the design resulted to improvements and new iterations of the product.
The final model followed the same principle but utilizes a removable cover to seal the front side as well as a hanging rack. The front cover has special hooks which allow it to be hanged in a closet and to utilize the pouches on its back side. It is made out of vinyl wrapped cardboard, and the hanging rack is a clear acrylic tube.
The renderings illustrate the proposed aesthetics of the suitcase, as well as other possible color palettes.
