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
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Comments
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 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.
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.
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'
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.