Product
Choosing the right materials for a project is of utmost importance. As product designers, we can significantly enhance a brand and experience by material selection. With visiting professor Scott Summit, we were tasked to take a product we enjoyed and improve it solely by making material changes.
I chose to focus on the Kelty Mantra 6, a large tent designed for avid campers. Settling on "bringing luxury where it doesn't belong," I researched materials that would enhance the experience for tech-loving campers.
Kelty is a brand built on low-cost innovation. The current product line is dependable and admirable, but another look at manufacturing and use of materials will make Kelty's products once again stand out as a leader in outdoor gear for serious adventurers. The Mantra 6 is a large tent that will most likely be used by a family that is experienced with camping, but not serious about gram-shaving and sparse living. They will most likely have a car to get their equipment where it's needed.
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Below are a few examples from my research book, which can be downloaded here.
Why?
Once set up, tents sit out in the open, often in direct sunlight. It's no secret that when a tent sits in the sun all day it gets very hot. It only makes sense to make use of that energy hitting the tent's rainfly all day. With a surface area as large as the Mantra 6, copious amounts of solar energy could be put to good use.
Applications
Solar cells could be very useful for the casual and family camper. The user could charge cell phones in case of emergencies, powering lights and cooking appliances are also a good use of power. Free power in the campsite would also benefit those who want access to the luxury of iPods and other devices that will lose battery power quickly.
Why?
The current nylon cord used with the Mantra 6 feels cheap and does not give the user much faith in its strength. Spectra, as a material, is trusted in the rock climbing world as one of the strongest pieces of safety equipment. Kelty already has this product available in house! This cord has a diameter of 0.0875" and a breaking strength of 188lbs, more than enough to help a tent withstand the highest of wind speeds. Higher-end versions of this cord can be manufactured up to a breaking strength of 1109 lbs. @ .125" diameter or a minimum diameter of 0.04".
Applications
When used for cord, Spectra weaves would be much stronger than regular nylon as well as drastically improve the quality and feel of the guylines. The reflective material already included in Kelty spectra cord will help people from tripping on the guylines at night.
Why?
Normal aluminum tent stakes have two major flaws. First, their round shape makes them easy to pull out of the ground when it is wet or when someone trips over a guyline. Second, when the stake is pounded into hard ground, or not hammered carefully, it will bend and become unusable. This is particularly bad when camping far away from a sporting goods store and not having extra stakes.
Applications
Wouldn't it be nice if the stakes could straighten themselves? It's possible even in the wilderness, all you need is a staple of outdoor living: a campfire. Nickel Titanium is a "shape memory alloy;" it remembers it's original geometry even when bent out of shape. The shape of the stake is set by heat and by varying the properties of the metal, can be told at what temperature to "remember" its shape if deformed. For a campsite a good trigger temperature would be about 400°F.
Why?
Over time, tents tend to develop a musty mildew smell, especially if not dried and packed properly after each use. Six people living in one small space where showers aren't a priority can add unpleasantness as well.
Applications
This fabric uses materials that are not only flame retardant, but also use catalytic reactions with the air passing through to remove odors and pollutants from the air. It works the same was as a catalytic converter found in a car. If used as the main tent fabric, the air circulating through the tent will be even purer then the outside air. This will remove any odors inside the tent. Fire is also a danger when camping. Drapilux Air has a significantly higher resistance to fire then normal tent materials. Finally, this material has been proven to reduce airborne allergens from the air, making life for someone allergic to weeds and pollens not as miserable while camping.
Why?
In the wilderness, artificial light is at a premium for both easy of movement and safety. By utilizing the solar power of the improved rainfly, the Mantra 6 could provide light for its occupants and make itself visible from a distance.
Applications
There are two applications for Lumalive. This first is providing ambient illumination inside the tent. Unlike a camping lantern, which creates harsh shadows, the soft glow of LEDs all around the tent will be much more pleasing and comfortable. The user could even change the color of the light, white for normal use and red light if they did not want to reduce their night vision.
The second advantage would be that the tent would not be damaged unintentionally by others in group camp sites or hunters in the dark. In fact, users trying to find their way back to their campsite in a group camp would have a very easy time of it.