I was given the opportunity to collaborate with three Industry professionals on a pocket optimization design project

A look into pocket design

The Objective: Design 3 performance pocket iterations; tiered in a GOOD/BETTER/BEST format. Explain why each pocket design(s) tiers within each bucket (Good/Better/Best) and how the pocket design could be used on a garment or silhouette

Mentors for the project:

Dorothy Hopkins

Columbia Sportswear Apparel Design Manager Women’s Outerwear

Kelly Steinaur

Columbia Sportswear Senior Creative Services Director

Jef Ingram

Columbia Sportswear Senior Design Lead Men's Outerwear

The Project

The Good/ Better/ best price structure required me to design multiple designs all fitting within various pricepoints. Good being a lower pricepoint, with best being the highest.

Consumer: Everyday Expert

The idea of the everyday expert is one that most people can relate to. This person does not spend every moment summiting mountains but enjoys getting out of the city to explore the outdoors whenever possible

MOOD

I drew lots of inspiration from the idea of collection. Being able to have enough storage to allow for foraging or collection in the outdoors.

Good:Low Price Tier

  • Most simple option.

  • Four small-hole mesh pockets with stretch binding openings

  • Applied with basic tape Easy entrance to your pockets while optimizing storage for whatever you may carry.

  • Inspired by the back pockets of airplane seats

    • simple, yet extremely utilitarian.

Better:Mid Price Tier

  • 2 small hole mesh pockets, each with a toggle cinch for closure

  • 1 security pocket made from polyester ripstop, zipper closure. Placed behind the main mesh pocket

  • 1 large small hole mesh pocket on the body with toggle cinch closure. Pockets have greater build for more storage

Best:Highest Price Tier

  • The 2 top pockets are designed for security and are able to hold items of different sizes.

  • The main pocket is 2 layers. The back layer is a polyester ripstop, while the front layer is a small hole mesh.

  • Built-in strap stuff pocket on the left side of the pocket, with a D ring on the right side to secure the strap

  • zipper allows for the pocket to be zipped off, while the snap on the bottom of the pocket is designed to secure the pocket to the jacket

The detachable pocket allows for the largest amount of storage and variation