FRIEZE NEW YORK 2013
INTERNATIONAL HOME + HOUSEWARES SHOW 2013
TOKYO DESIGN WEEK 2012
BEIJING DESIGN WEEK 2012
In high school we were taken to meet a guy who made "antiqued" furniture. It was all freshly made in his shop, but he had an array of objects—chains, bottlecaps, and even carefully-selected rocks—that he'd flay, pound, drop and grind against each piece to give it a calculated weathering. The results were convincing, but one of my classmates sniggered something about it being fake. The man asked the kid if his jeans were pre-faded, or if he'd bought them like that.
Whether clothing or furniture, there's a history for beating things up for aesthetic reasons; but how far should we take that? Francesco Pavia, a designer who hails from Venice, has extended it into luggage with his Crash Baggage line.
What is the first thing we think about when we buy a new suitcase?We worry that it might get ruined.
The damaged case! An innovative travel philosophy that has opened the way to a whole new way of conceiving the suitcase: that of the non-handle with care, where damage is no longer a problem.
Crash baggage already has the typical dents that are caused by frequent use. Indeed, over time, the new dents give even more personality to the suitcase. All this without forgetting the functionality and comfort of an object that has been created using the most advanced materials.
I kind of wish he'd make these perfect and then throw them down a concrete staircase, but the consistent dents indicate these come out of a mold.
In any case, what say you—yea or nay?
See Also: "Free Fall" Chair by Ezri Tarazi; "Do Hit" Chair by Marijn van der Poll for Droog
Comments
Nay in this situation. I can see this catching the attention of airport security.. "what's in there?"
Overall, I like the idea.
I can understand the concept of intentional wear to support a product's message or target market. I do, however, feel that this particular solution could be made more effective if it were a suggestion, perhaps one dent? The final design does also seem a bit too consistent to fit the message for me.
Ultimately when we design, we should always consider how the details support the main idea. In this case, the details begin to overpower the main idea a bit.
Nay. This is what the used market is for. Making something that endures damage and ages in a way that is beautiful is what I think the correct approach is.
Russ, you've beautifully articulated what I'd love to see more of in the design world.
This theme is something I really like seeing in products today. That said I think this solution could have been executed much better and in a more interesting way. instead of dents what if there was chipped paint and even slight rust. I think just putting some dents as the final design is the easy solution. I would have liked to see something beyond that.
Well worn items tend to have a real beauty to them, but artificially "damaged" items all seem to have a kitsch issue. But then what do I know, the kids all like jeans and hats that have been taken to a belt sander here and there. It looks ridiculously contrived to me, but it is very, very popular.
this is very interesting of a topic to me-
this idea has been working in fashion, furniture, and other goods, very cool to think about designing other consumer products with this idea. Some of the Hyundai designs look like they were designed to appear 'post-impact'
stupid! who would buy this trash?
I always thought that Smart Cars scratched series was underrated.
Love it, thinking outside of the square, I would buy one just to see people's reaction :) Everyone conforms to the norm, WHY?
Travelling is cool. A well-travelled bag, covered in airport stickers, is "honestly cool".
Faking travel (as with most other forms of faking) is genuinely uncool.
As mustaches, bicycles without gears, and other very uncool things are currently the new cool - I'd say this bag makes sense within it's time and place.
Another curious relic of a disposable culture.
Nay. Russ summed it up perfectly. It may appeal to the same crowd that pays extra for the holes in their jeans, but if I owned it, it would always feel fake to me. I remember going into Kohl's as a child and asking where they kept the new clothes.
I would buy a used, dented tin lunchbox before I would buy a cheap plastic one. Scuffs, scratches, and dents usually signify quality, durable craftsmanship. Products that fall apart after a few rough drops don't get to wear that badge. This pre-weathered stuff is false advertising.
They should have marketed it as theft-deterrent luggage. There's a smart trend of camouflaging expensive electronics and bicycles to prevent theft.
i think i would be fine having a new luggage bag and wearing it down over time because i use it so much. more memories.. the bumps on that design do nothing for me. it would be a bit sad that i didn't create those dents in the first place.
NAY!
I've found that an apparently badly wrapped item, say a bicycle wrapped in whatever materials you can find in the airport, will be treated with more care than well wrapped / appropriately boxed item. Baggage handlers will make a snap decision on a piece of cargo; does the box look strong enough to throw? This Crash Baggage is only going to project the idea that the bag itself and the contents are of no importance. How could it be if the owner has let it get like this and still uses it?
Its an interesting idea, but badly executed. It's no old steamer trunk, it has all the charm of my wheelie bin.
I don't remember ever seeing any luggage as damaged as this one. It looks way too fake to stand up for its concept, not to mention it looks incredibly cheap for something that we all know will cost more than its worth. A huge NAY on this one, although I'm sure it will be a yea for hipsters...
Maybe as a "custom" option, limited edition. Limited edition custom damaged by celebrity designer/artist Karim Rashid, Marcel Wanders, Starck, Gaga, etc.....