Much of my inspiration is found within the city I grew up in, New York City. I think about my surroundings, the buildings, the people, the energy and attempt to translate that into design.
After my experience in Australia, I found much of my inspiration from the places I visited. Whether it was my outlandish sailboat captain or my kind-hearted and cultured aborigine friend Linc, I was most definitely inspired. I also found inspiration from the public. One contributor, Rob B. was particularly insightful (thank you!).
I’m working on final tweaks to the designs and will be sending it out to the manufacturer. You’ll be seeing the prototype soon, so stay tuned.
Good design for which I have a few comments (as a frequent, i.e., weekly, air traveler). Velcro – recommend using for closure on the front pockets. People need to be able to quickly access misc. items, e.g., journals, travel documents. Wheels – I know you are trying to keep the weight down, but the way folks pack, the bag is likely to get quite heavy. The alternative is a comfortable strap system (many are not) and, perhaps, an end that is reinforced, as I frequently see people dragging their bags on the ground. Also consider looking at the OneBag.com website, which has interesting perspectives on travel bags. Good luck.
How blingy does a bag need to be? A bag needs to be simple, as it is first a functional item. Your bag looks busy and the bottom compartment doesn’t need to be delineated by a color line . You’re shortening the look of the bag with this line . Stay away from plaid as well. The owner of this bag won’t be living in the ’50s nor will he/she be going to summer camp. Plaid gives it a retro look that is at once twee and novelty. Clean up your design!
Wheels.
Wonderful design. A suggestion for the next generation tote is to slightly enlarge it and allow it to be rollable for older travelers with a handle that slides out on the wide side of the bag as opposed to one of the tote’s ends so that the contents do not fully shift to one end when it is lifted.
Please make sure that the side pocket is usable. Due to the use of leather, I am concerned that I cannot spread the pocket opening large enough to easily get things in and out due to the fact that leather is not as flexible as other materials.
Also, would you be so gracious as to consider other textile patterns? I hate plaid and love mod. Perhaps another textile pattern for the ladies?
Last but not least, please consider earth-friendly material options and fair trade production.
Thank you for opening up your design to feedback at an early stage. It is always a risk to any designer, but I sincerely hope you gain new perspectives that assist your company’s development.
Most important are zippers that cannot jam or break. Next, what about wheels and a handle to turn this thing into a roll bag
For the past 30 years or so, I have spent a total of about 2 months each year away from home, mainly on US domestic trips, including four independent trips to Alaska. I am rarely with a “tour”, so plan on being my own baggage handler. That’s a lot of trekking in and out of airports – usually 18-20 times a year + more on multi-leg trips. I think I’m qualified to comment on the design of a travel bag. By the way, I’m retirement age, but not weak or feeble by any means! I’m a woman of average height and probably average strength. I travel alone. I like high quality luggage. I like to be able to find it on the carousel. I do NOT want my luggage to look so expensive or so unusual that it would be tempting to thieves. I like to travel in comfort – struggle and hassle are not for me. The fewer straps I have over my shoulders the happier I am!
Here’s what I look for in a travel bag: DOES IT HAVE WHEELS? They need to retract, of course. I “hand carry” my camera; I do not wish to “hand carry” my luggage, too. Other things I look for: very strong fabric and stitching, outside pockets should have zippers or at least velcro to keep items from being shaken out; it MUST BE LIGHT WEIGHT. If it weighs more than 8 pounds empty, we’re apt to be in trouble. Remember, I have to lift this thing into the overhead compartment and when loaded, even the lightest bag is not light. I also need for the hardware, including zippers, to be very strong so they won’t give out on me in the middle of a trip!
I would LIKE the bag to fit under the seat, but if it doesn’t it must go in the overhead.
Color? I don’t care — even if it’s black, I’ll find it. I use “day-glo” tags and have additional unique tags that date to my many years as wife of an airline pilot. My current bags are taupe, and that’s better than black. Color of lining? I don’t care, as long as it doesn’t show dirt. I keep my bags for quite a while and the inside might get grubby if I forget to wrap up my shoes. Lining needs to be VERY light weight and rip-proof.
To be useful for me, a bag needs to hold about three pairs of medium-weight wool knit pants; 4 light-weight cashmere sweaters, one pair of shoes. I wear my heaviest clothes (pants, jacket, raincoat, heavier sweater), and pack underwear inside shoes and in corners. Scarves are tucked into corners. I take only essentials and separate pieces of clothing are mainly interchangable; most cosmetics are in my handbag, with the camera. Jewelry is on my body. This much will “do” me for about 10 days in a city and fits easily into a 22-inch “wheely bag”. Other stuff will go in there, too, if it’s packed right. (It definitely will “do” NYC for 10 days in Spring or Fall – and I don’t look like a tourist from California, either.)
I don’t want ANYTHING on the outside of the bag that could get caught on ANYTHING! With the exception of the handles, the bag needs to be smooth. I wonder about your rope detailing; it looks good, but is there a possibility that a mysterious “something” could get caught in that rope? Don’t want that.
Men and women may have different baggage needs. Younger and older people have different needs. What is your target market?
Your sketches, unfortunately, do not contain dimensions for height-width-length-depth. I would like that. I like the separate compartment in the base of the bag — reminiscent of someone who designed nice purses a while ago. What do you have to prevent clothes from rattling around and getting wrinkled when the bag is packed very lightly and is not full? (need a restraint strap to fasten across clothes).
I’d love to get my hands on your bag and see if it works for me!
Love the look of this! Would you consider adding a trolley handle & some wheels???
For me, as someone who has trouble seeing, a light interior is something I look for. Also how about a small LED light inside the bag? It could go on the end of the zipper inside the bag to give additional lighting for finding things in some of those dark rooms?
Glad I could help. Can’t wait for the final product!