OLD TOWN OVERNIGHT SHELTER
an item to evade capture & carry equipment
This project was designed as part of a collection developed by the SPD Class of 2020 to create products for “The Runners”, the new pioneers living in a fictional future scenario: Utopian Dystopia
A fictional company rises to power consolidating the entire population into one workforce in corporate communities. City centers are abandoned, sports are outlawed.
A new type of revolutionist emerges. These “Runners” sneak out of the corporate communities and travel to the abandoned locations in the cities to participate in illegal underground sports.
The Old Town Overnight Shelter uses convertible camouflage for avoiding capture. Converting from a garment to a tent which can be reversed into a bag for easy transport and storage. This piece was created by shredding up household garbage bags and heat pressing them between clear plastic bags and cotton woven fabric. If plastic is going to last forever why not do something useful with it.
Learn more about this product from the introductory video below.
Learn more about this product from the introductory video below.
Old Town Overnight Shelter
CONVERTIBLE CAMOUFLAGE
An item to evade capture & carry equipment
the user
THE RUNNERS
They want to compete. They want to change the game & the future. But that means playing a riskier version of hide & seek where getting found means losing everything.
the problem
THE RUNNERS
The Runners will need to sneak off the corporation's campus undetected. They will require a way to hide & carry equipment to the playing field.
user needs
MATERIALS
Use easily accessible & abundant materials found in an urban setting
CONCEALMENT
Blend into surroundings & protect
valuable items from detection
STORAGE
Hold & transport equipment from
the suburbs to the city center
product needs
CAMOUFLAGE
Disguise valuable items
as something else
CONVERTIBLE
Multipurpose use as a bag
& a garment & a shelter
CONVENIENT
Use materials that are
easy to attain & use
COVERAGE
Conceal the wearer
from detection
intention
TO CREATE A MULTIFUNCTIONAL PRODUCT THAT USES CAMOUFLAGE
TO CONCEAL THE WEARER FROM DETECTION WHILE SOLVING FOR
THE FOLLOWING:
- Easy to don & doff
-Uses found materials
-Has a storage feature
-Functions in an urban setting
background
CAMOUFLAGE
The hiding or disguising of something by
covering it up or changing the way it looks
NATURE
Utilized by animals to prevent detection by predators
or prey by blending into their surroundings
MILITARY
Wide range of patterns & colors on uniforms
that are created for a particular environment
inspiration
MATERIAL
Garbage is accessible, repurpose it to be both beautiful & functional
MANUFACTURING
Develop material by layering, patching & fusing plastic to fabric
COLOR
Collaged material forms a neutral grey camouflage that blends into the cityscape
CONCEPT
Limited resources means designing utilitarian items with multiple uses
inspiration
SKETCHING
Editing & reviewing sketches to land on a final design to develop
process: material exploration
SHRED
Prepared materials by cutting, crumpling, layering
different weights, colors, textures on fabric
PRESS
Adhere plastic to fabric using heat & pressure
Experimented with different heat & time settings
ANALYZE
Review outcomes of materials, settings, & deter-
mine which to proceed with for the final product
prototyping: silhouette exploration
PAPER MODEL
To determine tent shape, proportions
& overall dimensions
HALF SCALE MODEL
To confirm concept of materials
& construction
FULL SCALE MODEL
To test proportion, fit
reversibility & functionality
final plan
TECHNICAL DESIGNS
Final flats, detail diagrams & construction call outs
proof of concept
REVEAL
The two way, reversible zipper allows the wearer to open the tent with ease & exit the structure
LATCH
D-ring & carabiner latches the base of the tent up & out of the way. Also allows for access to the bag pocket.
SUSPEND
Another D-ring & carabiner attached at the top of the structure enables the tent to be suspended.
DON
Interior adjustable nylon mesh straps allow for quick dining & doffing as well as a secure fit & feel.
conclusion
In further exploration of this product & space I'd like to look more in depth into how to make the material more durable as well as explore a silhouette that could conceal the wearer for a longer duration.
The Old Town Overnight Shelter
A multifunctional item that converts from a shelter to a garment with a built in bag. A product for The Runners to avoid capture.
