It all starts with an idea, a piece of paper and some time.

Bags and Packs are an overlooked necessity of modern life. From our first days of school they are a constant companion, lugging our gear for classes, sports, work, or any other pursuit that allows us to explore our interests. 

Today's backpacks are no longer the simple “pack with a pocket” that most of us grew up with. Nearly every aspect of today's backpack has been refined and refined again. As an example, even the simplest bags at Boundary Supply incorporate sophisticated construction and patterning techniques; taking flat panels of fabric cut for shoulder straps and back panels and transforming them into assemblies that articulate and conform to the users body, creating complex ergonomic solutions superior to the products we grew up with. 

All of those refinements add up to a surprising number of pieces and parts in a modern backpack. From injection molded hardware to advanced fabric weaves and recycled elements, a simple backpack can have over 30 items on the bill of materials. One of the most common elements of a backpack is also a great example of how quickly things can spiral into complexity. A zipper sounds pretty basic and straight forward but when you dive a little deeper you find that the simplest zipper assembly can have hundreds of combinations between materials, finishes, and specific functions for the elements, tape, slider, tab, and pull. 

Zippers and all of their parts are low key important because they are one of the primary touchpoints on a bag. If the zipper is annoying to use, if it kinks and binds it will taint the entire user experience. Most of the engineering has been sorted out by modern suppliers, Boundary Supply partners with YKK because of their reliability and commitment to technical advances in their industry, ensuring great functioning and nearly infallible parts. The zipper pull is where a lot of designers like to have fun and show their creativity, but things can go sideways quickly if you're not careful. Boundary Supply believes a zipper pull should be quiet functionally and visually, easy to operate, and have a good hand feel. Visually you want them to fit within the design language of the target user's environment. For business bags they should be visually interesting while not being distracting. A list of the functional and visual requirements would look something like this:

Functional Requirements:

Texture / material to provide grip
Large enough to easily grab
Easy to visually locate on the bag
Good feel in your hand
Makes little to no  noise when the bag is moved

Visual Design Language:

Business professional
Modern / techy
Noticeable but not distracting
Material Combinations for interest

Functionally speaking some users prefer longer pulls while other users want a simple zipper tab to grab. My goal as a designer is to solve for both of those users if possible. A potential solution could be starting with a long tab that can function on its own, but could also accept another material or element to give it a more dynamic and tailored look while increasing the ease of use. That combination could satisfy the functional requirements.

Visual Inspiration can come from anywhere. I create inspiration boards for different product categories that incorporate fashion, tech, and any other specific categories that apply to that product. When it comes to metal zipper tabs there are similarities to jewelry (small intricate metal items) so adding good visual traits from that world would be helpful.

Zipper tabs are an injection molded part, which means there is an “A” side and a “B” side that can be different from each other. This provides the opportunity to create shapes and forms on the bottom that are different from the shapes and forms on the top side. Quick ideation sketches combine angular (modern / techy) forms around the perimeter that fit with the Boundary Supply logo.  Those simple shapes then blend into the established geometry where the tab meets the zipper head to ensure that the zipper performs as expected. The raised frame around the zipper tab showcases the logo in a simple and clean concave field inspired by men’s jewelry. The bottom of the tab has a subtle convex “belly” to it with a few ridges for texture / grip that would be helpful functionally but also a pleasant surprise when the user first grabs the tab. 

The ability to add fabric, webbing, and cord to the tab make it more versatile, creating an opportunity to explore material and color combinations to better suit different styles and designs. Quick sketches provide an idea of how that could look. 

The concept is promising. The look needs further refinement but the concept has proven to be worth further exploration. The ability to use the tab as a stand alone part or in combination with a secondary material would give it versatility to be used on multiple bag styles and color combinations for years to come.

This zipper pull concept process is representative of the level of thought and effort that goes into every element of a Boundary Supply product. We believe a backpack is truly the sum of its 30+ parts and even though you may not be able to identify every refinement we make to our bags, we are certain the difference can be felt.