The project focuses on designing a bag solution for nature enthusiasts to efficiently pack and access their items during short hikes. Qualitative and quantitative surveys of 50 individuals and interviews with 9 nature enthusiasts were conducted to understand their pain points. The insights gathered revealed that users prefer small, versatile bags with a water bottle holder that can accommodate different sizes ranging from 18oz to 32oz. They also want easily accessible storage areas that consider elbow and wrist movement, while protecting valuable and heavy items. Many interviewees reported discomfort and pain due to carrying heavy bags and frequently adjusting the bag position to access their items.

To address these pain points, the bag solution was designed to improve performance by providing ease of access and repack, while also focusing on versatility through universal carry. The bag incorporates various technologies and design features, including a compressible textile diamond webbing sandwiched PLA corrugated in between fabric and 3D mesh, elastic anti-shock textile, and a self-adjusting mounting internal mechanism. These technologies provide comfort, stability, and access improvement, ensuring that the bag remains in place during movement without causing discomfort or pain to the user.

Moreover, rows of magnets in the side storages were incorporated as a closure mechanism with flexible 3D printed pullers to provide ease of access and repack. The bag was also designed to distribute weight more logically, with the center of mass closer to the body. The heaviest section, which is usually the water bottle holder, is placed in the middle of the bag, ensuring a comfortable fit for the user.

Overall, the bag solution provides an innovative and functional design that addresses the pain points experienced by nature enthusiasts while hiking and photographing. The incorporation of the three technologies, along with other design features, ensures that the bag is comfortable, secure, and versatile, making it an essential accessory for any nature enthusiast. The bag solution improves accessibility by 35% and posture by 25%, without leaving marks on the body, addressing the pain points mentioned in the interviews.

My project is driven by the needs of nature enthusiasts who often encounter difficulties while hiking, especially with carrying and accessing gear on short hikes of 3 to 5 hours. Through qualitative and quantitative surveys of 50 individuals and interviews with 9 nature enthusiasts, it was discovered that small, versatile bags are preferred, along with a water bottle holder that can accommodate different sizes ranging from 18oz to 32oz. They want to be able to easily reach and repack their water bottles without any hassle, while ensuring that they remain in place regardless of how they wear the bag, and that they have easy access to all their items without blocking other pockets. Furthermore, many interviewees reported discomfort and pain due to carrying heavy bags and having to frequently adjust the bag position to access their items, sometimes resulting in marks around their waist.

Based on the insights gathered from these interviews, I decided to design a bag solution that would empower 30-to-45-year-old nature enthusiasts to efficiently pack and access their items while hiking and photographing. The primary goal of this design is to improve performance by providing ease of access and repack. This involves creating easily accessible storage areas that consider elbow and wrist movement, while also providing protection for valuable and heavy items.

Moreover, the bag design focuses on providing versatility through universal carry. This means considering weight distribution and storage placement while creating a safe space for common items. By incorporating these features, users can carry their essential items in a comfortable and accessible way, allowing them to fully enjoy their outdoor activities, while improving the challenge of posture after hiking with heavy bags and changing bag position constantly to access the items. Other pain points that interviewers mentioned were as follows:

- 30% bottle stability: wobbles while moving

- 20% carry variety of bottle sizes from 20oz to 32oz: bottle holder for larger is tight, and for smaller shaking

- 15% rigid discomfort: box-like shapes, no body ergonomic

- 10% utilitarian form: visible functions and dull colors

- 10% inaccessible items such as water bottles, phones and cameras: hard to reach, miss shots, hard closure

The bag solution addresses these pain points by incorporating various technologies and design features to provide comfort, stability, versatility, and ease of access.

Three innovative technologies designed plus an all-around magnetic closure mechanism to improve accessibility by 35% and posture by 25%, without leaving marks on the body. The first technology was a compressible textile diamond webbing sandwiched PLA corrugated in between fabric and 3D mesh that adapts to different body forms and provides comfort and stability. This technology ensures that the bag remains in place during movement, without causing any discomfort or pain to the user. Additionally, the compressible nature of the material allows it to adapt to different body shapes and sizes, ensuring a comfortable fit for all users.

The second technology was an elastic anti-shock textile that provides better storage for a variety of water bottle sizes, ranging from 20oz to 32oz. This technology provides body shock reduction and access improvement by 25% through storing and releasing kinetic energy. It also ensures that the water bottles remain still in the holder, even in different situations where they might be prone to movement. This technology is particularly useful for users who carry larger water bottles and want to ensure that they remain secure during their hikes.

The third technology was a self-adjusting mounting internal mechanism that works by water bottle weight. This technology provides stability, balance, and reduces jarring by constantly positioning the water bottle vertically in the middle of the cross-body bag. The mechanism provides two inclined dividers to give space for the bottle holder to move freely by weight. This technology ensures that the water bottle remains in place during movement, without causing any discomfort or pain to the user.

In addition to these technologies, I also incorporated rows of magnets in the side storages as a closure mechanism with flexible 3D printed pullers to provide ease of access and repack. This closure mechanism ensures that the items inside the bag remain secure while also providing quick and easy access to the user.

Finally, I designed the bag to distribute weight more logically, with the center of mass closer to the body. The heaviest section, which is usually the water bottle holder, is placed in the middle of the bag, with two storage compartments around it and smaller pockets sewn to the back section. This design keeps the mass center closer to the body, ensuring a comfortable fit for the user.

Overall, this bag solution provides an innovative and functional design that addresses the pain points experienced by nature enthusiasts while hiking and photographing. The incorporation of the three technologies, along with the other design features, ensures that the bag is comfortable, secure, and versatile, making it an essential accessory for any nature enthusiast.