Project: trail bag
Client: Colony Cleanup
Capabilities: research // design // PROTOTYPE // manufacturing
CLIENT REQUEST: The Colony team came to us with a lofty problem: how can we prevent people from littering on hiking trails and how can we encourage people to clean up existing litter?
THE CHALLENGE: This solution space needed a lot of wiggle room. The end product needed to accommodate those on a quick hike and those setting out on trash collection treks. The solution needed to work with existing hiking backpacks but also be able to hold its own. The bag needed to be open when we wanted to put something in but not stay open and waft out gross smells when it wasn’t needed.
THE APPROACH: We started by looking at the most minimal solution possible (a flexible ring to attach to a shopping bag) and the most involved solution possible (think:full on bag, lots of pockets). The chosen direction landed somewhere in the middle. We prototyped really early on and learned a lot about different methods of closing and changing the carrying capacity of the bag.
THE RESULTS: We ended up with a bag that works for day hikes, weekend campsites, trail runs, ski runs and more. The bag comes with compostable liners attached with magnetic snaps and can be opened and closed with one hand. One strap and 4 attachment points allow for creative carry options and the zipper at the bottom makes for no touch disposal when you are finished.
“Colony Cleanup is built on the idea that most people would clean-up litter and garbage if it was easy and practical to do so. We built the brand on the idea of a colony of bees that are always building and improving their colony. We envision a better world in which people do the same; everyone contributes just a little bit each time they go out to improve our home. ”
