Purtrek
The first trekking pole with an integrated water filter. Finding meaningful form through functional flow, this water filter is meant to complement every adventurer from day-hiking to back-country.
Year
2019
Scope
Industrial Design Product Development
Client
Purtrek
Duration
8 months
Challenge
How do we make potable water more accessible, and more intuitive, for everyone from casual explorers to seasoned adventurers?
Solution
The Water Pole utilizes an already familiar space in the explorer's arsenal, a trekking pole, easily mounted on most back country packs. Combining top-tier water filtering into a trekking pole required harmonious teamwork between aesthetic design and engineering, from creatively selecting off-the-shelf components to choosing the form and geometry to meet every need, from user interaction and serviceability to manufacturability.
Learning
Often, a designer's intent feels like it should be the final word, and even the best design can fall short when it meets the realities of production, manufacturing constraints, or the needs of those carrying it forward into the next phase.
