Onsight

A backpack for amateur climbing photographers.
COLLABORATORS: VICTORIA LI,KRIS BRAUER
5 WEEKS
APR - JUN 2023
Man rappeling down a rocky face while taking a photo

RESEARCH

Timeline with the following labels.

19th century: Early mountaineers carried cameras with them to document their expeditions, out photography was still a relatively new technology and images were often of poor quality due to the limitations of the equipment.

Late 1800s: Photographers likeVittorio Sella began to specialize in mountaineering photography, using large-format cameras to capture stunning images of mountains and climbers!

Early 1900s: The development of smaller, more portable cameras made it easier for climbers to capture images while on expeditions. Photographers likeHerbert Ponting and George Mallory used these cameras to document their climbs.

1930s-1950s: The rise of adventure photography magazines like Life and National Geographic led to a boom in mountaineering photography, with photographers like Bradford Washburn and Ansel Adams capturing stunning images of mountains and climbers.

1960s-1970s: The introduction of lightweight, portable cameras like the Nikon F and Leica M made it easier for climbers to capture high-quality images while on expeditions. Photographers like Galen Rowell and Jim Herrington used these cameras to document some of the most iconic climbs of the era.

1980s-present: Advances in camera technology have made it easier than ever for climbers and photographers to capture stunning images of mountains and climbers. Jimmy Chin, Renan Ozturk, Jan Vincent Kleine, Krystle Wright, Irene Yee, Cedar Wright, and Corey Rich are some of the many modern day dual athletes and photographers
Chart showcasing different backpack's price points, and pros, cons.
Collage of different backpack straps
Materials for backpack spread out on floor, climbing while taking a pictures with a camera
Moodboard, blues, yellows on black and white, drawstrings, webbing

SKETCHING AND PROTOTYPING

Ideation for backpack's form
Paper prototypes to visualize general pack design.
Foam model to understand camera size and constraints.
Side accessibility and daisy chain layout.
Muslin prototype to finalize construction steps.
Integrating a pocket into the camera case lid.
SHOULDER STRAPS/HARNESS.
MAIN PACK.
CAMERA BAG.

TECH PACK

Backpack with Callouts
Main backpack ortho views
Camera Bag
Camera Bag Ortho View

PROTOTYPE

Backpack with camera case on a rock
ABILITY TO CLIP INSIDE THE BAG.
ABILITY TO CLIP ONTO SHOULDER STRAPS FOR FRONT ACCESS.
BUNGEE CORD CONNECTED TO CAMERA USING TRIPOD THREAD.
INTEGRATED MESH POCKET AND VELCRO ON CASE LID.
EASY ACCESS DRAWSTRING.
CINCH TOP.
MESH POCKETS INTEGRATED INTO SHOULDER STRAPS.
SIDE COMPRESSION STRAPS TO SECURE ROPE.
EASY ACCESS SIDE POCKET FOR A LIGHT JACKET.
Closeup of strap on backpack
Backpack on rocks
Man walking on rocks with big technical backpack
Man walking on rocks with technical backpack on
Top down view of technical backpack
Man walking on rocks with backpack