A Camping Hygiene Solution for Reducing Human Footprint.
Brand Concept
TPAK
Focus
Industrial Design,
Design Research,
Branding
Role
Sole Designer
Timeline
13 weeks
Overview
Packing out human waste and related projects on camping and hiking trips is an undesirable, difficult, and unhygienic task. At the same time, preserving wild environments and minimizing human trace is essential for maintaining natural ecosystems. The goal of this project was to encourage hikers and backpackers to adhere to footprint reduction through developing a solution to safely and easily pack out bathroom waste.
Outcome
The TPAK - a sustainable solution for backpackers to simplify the process of using the bathroom while hiking on trails without toilet access. My design allows for storage of both clean and used toilet paper in a manner that ensures cleanliness while encouraging backpackers to minimize their trace by packing out trash.
My Process
Research & Discovery
Define & Synthesize
Ideate & Validate
Design & Refine
Research & Discovery
What are the environmental impacts and biggest barriers to packing out bathroom-related waste while hiking?
Secondary Research
Understanding the impacts of campers and backpackers on the natural environment.
The camping population is significantly growing each year.
As more people camp, human footprint on natural land increases, leading to:
We can minimize this harmful impact by following Leave No Trace Guidelines, especially including packing out trash.
This includes toilet paper & feminine products, which are less of a social norm for packing out due to hygiene and comfort concerns.
Who actually wants to pick up a pile of feces-smeared tissues and carry them for a week, tucked in among clothes and other precious belongings?
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Conducting 1-on-1 Interviews
I interviewed 12 campers, hikers and backpackers across a wide range of experience levels to gain a better sense of the challenges associated with packing out waste.
I also spoke with several experts in the field and received ample feedback from the Outdoor Women's Alliance.
Overall, I found that cleanliness, compactness, and convenience were the most important factors for backpackers in designing a solution to pack out waste.
Define & Synthesize
Identifying key design opportunities
1. Ease of Disposal
No one wants to deal with dirty toilet paper or other trash after it's used. There is a need for a portable disposal solution that minimizes interaction with the waste and ensures cleanliness.
2. Compact Carrier
There are currently no products on the market that are specifically designed for the storage of both clean and used toilet paper outdoors. A compact carrier would minimize space and quantity of items in the pack.
3. Comfort & Security
Using the bathroom in the woods can feel embarrassing and uncomfortable due to lack of privacy and unfamiliarity. The ideal solution needs to minimize this discomfort and create a sense of privacy for users.
Ideate & Validate
Developing concepts based on opportunity themes
Concept Refinement
Concept development process from initial sketch concepts to rough prototyping for user testing.
Concept Ideation
Initial concept generation consisted of exploration of a range of solutions, from collapsible toilet paper holders to compact storage solutions that attach to a hiking backpack.
Design & Refine
Refining concept details, including functionality, use cases, and form development.
Final Design Development
Based on user feedback and initial research, the compact carrier with ease of disposal was selected as the leading concept for refinement.
How it Works...
Reflection
Key Takeaways...
The Outcome
The TPAK concept tackles the environmental challenge of managing bathroom waste while hiking, promoting a culture of cleanliness and sustainability among backpackers. By emphasizing convenience, comfort, and ease of use, this concept encourages adherence to responsible waste disposal practices. Its compact design not only conserves precious backpack space but also enhances the likelihood of adoption by space-conscious travelers. The innovative design of TPAK aims to promote sustainability and elevate trail comfort for outdoor enthusiasts.
What I Might Do Differently...
A few things that I learned from this project or would keep in mind for the next time around...
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Consider ease of cleaning of device - will the user rinse out the product with water? Should a disposable bag/liner be used? What would the environmental implications of this mean?
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Could this product benefit from a proprietary model with custom sized toilet paper rolls and disposable bags for purchase?
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Deeper dive into material exploration, considering cost, environmental impact, manufacturing processes and durability.
