In the words of Tobias Funke: "Let the great experiment begin!"
What's the best way to kick off a bike design project? A bike ride. We decided to take advantage of a rare sunny day in mid-February and conduct our first Signal x Ziba brainstorm in the saddle. As we pedaled the streets of downtown Portland, we dove straight into a conversation about the finer points bicycle-building and design. It felt a bit like a first date in that, as we chatted, we nervously eyed each other's bikes and riding styles to get some insight into the perspective that each team member would bring to the table. For the Ziba team it was an opportunity to get some first-hand information about the materials and processes that go in to custom bike building; listening to expert craftsmen explain their technique is exhilirating for a group of designers. For the Signal team it was a chance to learn more about Ziba's approach to design and how that process would inform our creative collaboration.
An interesting anecdote from our first date:
At the end of our ride we decided to get take-out from one of our favorite Thai restaurants in the Pearl district. We emerged from the restaurant with a large bag of curry-filled take-out containers. Matt from Signal grabbed the bag, set it on his elegant custom rack, and adeptly secured them with standard elastic net. It was a simple act that almost went unnoticed but it demonstrated to all of us that the best designs are so natural and intuitive that they appear effortless. We decided that this kind of fluid and flexible interaction epitomizes what is missing from a lot of utility bike design; and we are determined to fill that gap.
Back at the Ziba office we officially kicked-off the project over lunch by reviewing the design brief and getting more in-depth about how we would tackle the challenge. The Signal guys explained that when they start a custom bike they quickly define the parameters of the project by determining three factors: the type of drive train, the type of brakes, and the type of handlebars. These variables seem simple and straightforward but there are so many options available and each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. Signal has enough tacit knowledge about their craft that when clients describe what they are looking for in a custom bike Matt and Nate can immediately make appropriate recommendations on the drive train, the handlebars and the brakes. Essentially, these parameters are carefully curated by Signal; the curated components then become the foundation for the rest of the bicycle design and build.
At its heart, custom bike building is about understanding a user's wants and needs and creating a beautiful bike that meets those wants and needs. This is essentially how designers approach any design problem. Once we understand and define the user's wants and needs we use those insights to think broadly and openly about what would best fit those wants and needs. So, while Signal necessarily approaches their design task by setting a few simple parameters, Ziba starts outside of those parameters and dreams of what could possibly enhance the experience. As we concluded our initial brainstorm we decided that our final design will be a combination of custom and curation: some parts will be carefully curated and other parts will be custom-designed, all with the intent of providing a beautiful experience.
To experience what we have been doing to kick-off the project take a look at the photos from our first meeting at the Signal bike shop.
