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Works

Comut

A compact backpack designed for urban commuters and cyclists

Roles:
  • Researcher
  • Soft Goods Designer

Comut backpack was designed with the Vancouver urban commuter and cyclist in mind. Designed for the German company Pinq Ponq, it emulates the company’s boxy, modern and playful aesthetic. Its compact and sleek profile allows the weight to stay close to your body, reducing force of gravity, especially when biking. A one-handed front pocket allows quick and easy access to essential items. The straps are custom fitted to the body’s natural curves, and the pockets and sleeves are sized to fit common personal belongings. With a padded bottom, the backpack stands upright, convenient during crowded bus trips when you need to place your bag on the floor. Carefully constructed from durable waterproof fabric, this backpack will last through the Vancouver climate. Drawing from years of personal experience using subpar backpacks, Comut is the answer to every commuter’s needs.  

Key Features: 

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  • The main zipper opens and folds all the way down for easy access

  • Side pockets for water bottle and umbrella

  • Padded and elevated laptop sleeve

  • Removable sternum straps

  • A document sleeve and two inside pockets

  • One-handed access front pocket

  • Padded back and shoulder straps

  • Waterproof fabric 

  • Reflector strips on the front, side and straps for increased visibility 

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Dimensions: 

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28x42x12 cm 

  • Research
    “I’m not sure, to be honest, I can’t say that I identify more to either side, because I still live with my parents so I speak a lot of Vietnamese and do Vietnamese family things, like I still feel connected to the Vietnamese culture, but not so strongly because I was born here. But I don’t identify as more Canadian either…” “To be quite honest, I’ve always felt a disconnect in which country is my home country, so don’t really know.” These are some of the responses, we received from initial research through a questionnaire about Identity. Drawing from this survey that we sent out to 1st and 2nd generation immigrant youths as well as mixed and third culture individuals, we mapped out their responses and drew common themes which are safe space, common ground and community.
  • Process
    We started out with the goal of connecting immigrants closer to their culture, but as the project evolved, we realized we had to look deeper than that. Through our primary research, internal questioning and reflection, conversations with peers and mentors, and the process of iteration, we arrived at the goal of lifting up youths so they feel belonging and acceptance. Eventually, we landed on two main activities that fulfills our core themes: a microaggression card game and a mask-mapping activity. We have iterated various versions of the workshop, what it would look like, and how it would play out with pandemic restrictions.
  • Prototyping
    We conducted material exploration for the mask-making activity, experimenting with felt, paper, plaster wrap, foil and other materials. The base had to be comfortable to use, be structured enough to provide participants with a framework but also lose enoughthat they could excercise their creativity. Eventually, we settled with papermache for its ease of use and low-skill engagement. For the card game, we mapped it out in Miro and created simple card prototypes to play with. We iterated several versions of the game, varying the prompts and responses to provide the smoothest and most genuine interaction while at it's core, educating participants and prompting conversation.
  • Engagement
    Through Miro and Zoom, as well as in-person, we conducted mini-workshops of the card game and the identity-mapping activity to test the outcome, facilitation and validate the impact of the workshop.
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