Movable Mountain
RIMOWA Design Prize 2024
Time
Nov. 2023-Feb. 2024
Team
Yixiao He, Yinpeng Gao
Project brief
The Movable Mountain is a product made from recycled materials that helps people with heavy loads take the load off their shoulders. Its basic form is a plastic structure made from recycled plastic. Simply fold it and it becomes a "vest" including shoulder straps, backrest and waist protector. Before carrying heavy objects, unpack the movable mountain, just fold it and inflate it, then carry it on your back, it will become a very useful helper. This work was shortlisted as a semi-finalist for the RIMOWA Design Award 2024.
Background
To this day, many people still make a living by carrying heavy objects. In China, there is an ancient profession called mountain workers, which involves carrying materials on their backs and walking between the top and the foot of a mountain. The labor intensity of nearly 40 kilograms each time hurts their bodies. About 1.76 billion people around the world face similar situations and need to rely on similar pure physical labor to earn a living.
We believe that design should be equal and serve everyone, so we want to design for people who rely on physical strength for a living.
Concepts
Mountaineering bag and air jacket are the two main products we refer to. By studying the structure of the mountaineering bag, we can determine a relatively reasonable structure that reduces the feeling of carrying. Products such as air jackets are inspired by foldable design. We hope to focus on this dilemma through the selection and consideration of materials and structures.
Studies have shown that if you use a belt and backrest when carrying heavy objects, so that the waist can bear the pressure on the back, the discomfort of the carrier can be reduced. We redesigned the waist and straps. We added a new airbag in the waist to give the waist better support. After doing this, we pat- tern-made the product.
Prototype
Experience
