Barebones
A Modular Bear Cannister
SUMMARY
Barebones is a size-adjustable bear canister that separates items without compromising accessibility
TIMEFRAME
Fall 2022
TYPE
Student Project
SKILLS LEARNED
Solidworks, 3D Printing,
user interview & journey, physical prototyping
MEET LAYLA
My housemate, Layla, is apart of an outdoor camping group at USC. She frequently adventures on backpacking trips that range from 1-7 days with groups of 2-7 people.
Most trips, she is forced to lug around the same bulky, messy bear canister. During her experience in the outdoor space, she hasn’t come across any new products that solve her problems of cleanliness, trash storage, food organization, and bulkiness.
UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM
LAYLA - 3 TO 4 TRIPS A YEAR
"If a ziplock bag containing trash or liquid breaks or leaks, it gets all over my personal products and food”
MATT - 5 TO 6 TRIPS A YEAR
“The shape of the canister is strange and it makes it so I can’t fit a lot of items-- I have to do a game of Tetris to fit everything”
JOHN - 5 TO 6 TRIPS A YEAR
“I had a trip in high school where the leader put a cardboard slot in his canister to divide it into two”
SIBELLE - 3 TO 4 TRIPS A YEAR
“I wish there was a compartment that can adjust to the growing trash that accumulates during a trip”
DAPHNE - 9 TO 10 TRIPS A YEAR
“Even if we’re just doing an overnight trip, I have to carry around my big canister that I also use for a 4-5 day trip”
UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM
INCORRECT SIZING
Whether you’re embarking on an overnight solo trip with few belongings or packing for 5 days, you’re using the same canister.
NO ORGANIZATION
Trash, personal hygiene products, and unopened food pile onto each other and cause clutter. To pull out your toothpaste, you need to sift through last nights dinner and used toilet paper.
POOR ACCESSIBILITY & ERGONOMICS
Everything in the canister is stacked like a game of Tetris. The ability to reach the item you need is limited and the shape of the canister doesn’t maximizing the amount of space you have.
NOT SUSTAINABLE
Current canisters force users to use an excessive number of ziplock bags to store and sort their belongings.
RESEARCH & MACRO TRENDS
More outdoor activity since COVID
Many National parks saw record numbers of visitors in 2020- and half of adults participated in outdoor recreation at least once a month
Stricter wildlife regulations
Increased attempts of wildlife conservation such as banning single-use water bottles at national parks and more funding to the NWRS.
Increase in fitness conscientiousness
A variety of studies reported an increase in fitness and exercise during the pandemic creating a large demand for fitness goods and services.
TAKEAWAYS
There are not many competitors in the market due to the difficulty of gaining approval for national park usage and a niche market
Typically only experienced backpackers own a canister while novices may rent a canister from a park requiring its usage
Of the top 10 backpacking destinations in the United States, 7 require an approved bear canister
PROCESS
I employed the tools of . . .
Whiteboarding
Mind Mapping
"What if.." Questions
Competetor Analysis/ Blue Ocean Mapping
. . . to inspire creativity, brainstorm ways to innovate, and see where my product can stand out
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IDEATION
PROTOTYPE 1.0
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GOAL
Ensure the sizing of the canister is similar to canisters on the market
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See how many items could fit inside the canister a mechanism for separating items
INSIGHTS
the canister was too large
I needed to work on the opening mechanism
PROTOTYPE 2.0
GOAL
Design the threads in SolidWorks and 3D print them
Observe the gripping patterns of individuals as they open the canister
Design ergonomic finger supports
OUTCOME
Finalized female and male threads
Incorporated a scent-proof feature
Mapped finger placements
Recognized that two varying-sized canisters allowed for more variety
PROTOTYPE 3.0
INSIGHTS
Surfaced a scent-proof and stable canister on Solidworks
Printed barriers that fit inside the canister and divided it into leak-proof sections
Incorporated reflective portion of the canister to ensure it could be found at night.
Surfaced an indent in the canister to provide a secure attachment to the backpack.
RENDERS
​Only carry the canister size you need: in its maximum capacity, Barebones can store 5-8 days' worth of goods. But for a day trip, take just the small canister for a lighter experience
​​​Separate your trash from the rest of your belongings with an insertable trash compartment-- attached to the internal barriers, it’s scent-proof and size-adjustable. After a trip, it can easily be removed and cleaned.
Easily insert and remove any number of internal barriers allowing you to compartmentalize your belongings and tailor your canister​​