COnsumer products
The Function brand was born of passions for snow sports and design. Unmet needs combined with a minimalist philosophy -creating spare, highly evolved and beautifully designed products.
Role: Co-founder, product designer, brand developer
01 / 02 Ultra Light Carry Systems
Function began with a simple need skiers and snowboarders have…to hike past the ski lifts, to deeper powder and bigger terrain…with free hands and a simple and comfortable way to carry your gear. The scant 84 gram 01 & 02 Carry Systems are designed to disappear into your pocket and be forgotten about…until that untracked powder in the bowl above starts calling. Then the simple systems, constructed with micro nylon webbing and hypalon are ready to get you there in comfort. With your gear on your back, you’re free to have a snack or hike with your poles. At the top, just stuff the straps back into the Tyvek sack and into your pocket it goes until the powder calls again.
A1_18 Snowboard Backpack / A2_18 Ski Backpack
With the Ultra Light Carry Systems under our belt, we used our learnings to reimagine ski and snowboard backpacks. With a focus on rider needs, we applied our minimalist aesthetic and developed two backpacks you could forget you’re even wearing while riding. The A1 snowboard and A2 ski backpacks are super light yet featured where you need. Rear entry for convenient access while loaded with skis or a board, highly organized with hydration, goggle, and phone/energy bar pockets, and a dedicated front access avalanche probe pocket for the quickest access in an emergency. We constructed these with a proprietary stronger-than-steel Dyneema laminate for ultimate durability, longevity, and hydrophobic properties. The ski and snowboard retention systems can’t be simpler - drop the tails through the aircraft cable loop and fasten one buckle. They stand out from the crowd, are a joy to use, and received the “Editor’s Choice Ultimate Backpack” Award from Freeskier Magazine.
Kit_70 / Kit_120 gear duffle bags
Now that Function had a few high performance on-mountain products, we looked to another need - getting to the mountain with all your stuff.
We developed two ultra packable and high capacity duffles. The Kit_70 is perfect for hauling everything one person needs for a day at the resort. The Kit_120 will take you overnight or accommodate a day trip for 2. The Dyneema construction stands up to the elements and any abuse you or the airlines can throw at it.
Expert Series Pressure Washers: Premium
Role: Industrial Design Consultant, Team Lead
Karcher was the global leader in consumer pressure washers, but was hardly known in the US. Their existing products didn’t fit the market and needs, but the strategy demanded growth. In collaboration with an international team, I was tasked with leading the new product design to establish the brand in the US. Nationwide research shed light on the most important end-user pain points, and the ensuing development was the most ergonomic and easiest to store pressure washer in the market. The aggressive styling and protective cage design spoke loud and clear to the target prosumer market, and gained Karcher entrance into Lowes and other key channels to rapidly accelerate growth.
Expert Series Pressure Washers: Mid-Range
Role: Industrial Design Consultant, Team Lead
There was a market opportunity for lower-cost & lower performance models to harness the momentum of the Premium Expert Series model. Previous research showed opportunity for a highly organized machine, where users could carry everything needed for the job, and keep it stored with the machine. I began with mocked up concepts and verified the values with end users. Then lead the development team to a final utilitarian design which stood out for its obvious advantages over competitive products and high perceived quality. Meeting the aggressive cost targets gained Karcher entrance into Costco. And a combination of parts from this development and the previous enabled a fast development of an entry-level machine to round out the new Karcher Expert Series.
K3000 “Follow Me” Electric Pressure Washer
Role: Industrial Design Consultant
Quick setup and easy use for washing cars and small jobs around the house - This was the opportunity. But many users would get frustrated when the hose was too short…and pull their pressure washer by the hose, causing it to fall over. Why not design for this? I collaborated with the design and engineering team on site in Germany, and our answer was the Follow Me. The much easier to use electric pressure washer was a hit and its innovation stood out, gaining marketshare and product depth in US big box and retail channels. And won the 2014 Focus Open Gold design award.
For about 10 years, I had the luxury of developing travel goods with Samsonite’s R&D team. Projects ranged from practical to highly conceptual. Many went into production, including the first “spinners”, which shaped 4-wheeled uprights as we know them today.
Role: Industrial Design Consultant
Concept Luggage / Bike Touring Trailer
This project was about what could be. Like a concept car, it questioned the status quo and opened minds to thinking bigger and looking toward an exciting future. Where one’s travel wouldn’t be limited by bags…bags would enable adventures not dreamed of before.
Hardside Chest series / Louis Vuitton concept
This chest was developed to foster a new business partnership, enabling Louis Vuitton to market mass produced travel chests, a modern interpretation inspired by their classics.
“Side by side” Luggage
This series pushed the boundaries of comfort and the human factors of transport, enabling the traveler to have their bag comfortably next to them as they hurried through the airport or navigated cobblestone streets and stairs to their hotel. The caster forward provided nimble handling while the big wheels forward enabled smooth transport over curbs, stairs and rougher terrain. The many iterations included both hard and soft sided and hybrid. I developed multiple handle systems including new to the market monotube designs, one of which was end mounted and provided a crisper packing experience for the user. A carbon fiber shell featuring a retractable caster was proposed for premium channels.
A few more…
I developed many wheels, handles, and bags for Samsonite. Shown below is a suspension caster, a pivoting handle with rubber overmold, and the exoskeleton constructed Sports Utility Luggage, which broke ground achieving much lighter weight travel solutions.
