Post was originally written for Kona Backpacks

As a designer, perhaps nothing plays a bigger role in our design process and the ideas we put out than inspiration. Everyone has their own source of inspiration; art, music, cities, color, people. I draw a lot of my inspiration from nature.

I am an avid hiker and mountain climber. There’s few things I love more than being up in the mountains. The beauty of the mountains, the freshness of the air, the silence, and the sense of scale I feel in the mountains keep me always wanting more. Whenever I am in a unique, exciting place in nature, I try my best to be silent and take it all in; taking notes of the things around me and the feelings I experience. Also, the physical demands of the products I take with me in nature are completely different than products used back around town. Products need to be built tough, with strong, durable, waterproof fabrics. The construction of the products needs to be different. Weight and excess needs to be minimalized. The demands are so much higher.

When designing a new backpack or product, I often draw inspiration from a specific place and adventure I have had. In this case, that place was Kona. The freedom, the untamed beauty, and the uniqueness of such places inspire the form of my designs. When trying to pick out color, I like to start by studying photographs I’ve taken during my adventures and draw color palettes directly from nature. When sourcing fabrics and materials, the physical demands of nature often play the biggest role in the materials I choose for the project. If the product is going to be used in extreme environments, very different fabrics and hardware are required than for a product intended for use in an office.

The Kona Backpack was inspired by the beauty of the Hawaiian island of Kona; the beaches, the palm trees, the hills, and the people. As a team, we tried to capture those features in the design of Kona. From its simplistic form, spacious inside, colorways, and the 3D printed front pocket, our design translates the feeling of the island into your Kona Backpack. The 3D printed pattern was even designed using the geometric forms found on a Kona palm tree.

Next time you’re out in nature, take note of the things you see and the feelings you experience. You never know where or when your next inspiration will strike.

How Nature Inspires My Design