In search of a functional tote-bag...
It's annoying...
that bags don't sit on its own without being floppy...
that bags can't store pouches without getting heavy and thick...
that bags can't make getting things out of the bag without accidentally dropping something else...
No, seriously, the bag industry has been going through thousand of years in progression, but we still can't make a bag that is practical and functional for doers, and doesn't look like a dried grape. And do not get me started with those luxury brand bullshit, where brand is more important than practicality in the work culture. It never does, in fact, you put yourself into a rabbit hole of shit quality when doing so.
Can you imagine? Us being designers meaning most drawings we work on are A3-sized, yet there are no bags designed for us to store those papers neatly without folding or intense rolling. I am aware of that poster tubes and portfolio case exists, but they look hideous for a lot of reasons:
- Poster tubes turn into a literal weapon, especially in public transport. Imagine, a long plastic spear that either whacks someone around you, blocks the doors, or get jammed between seats. You're not really "carrying your work" here, but rather apologising for it every few seconds.
- They also completely occupy one hand at least, which is ridiculous if you are in a coffee run with a bag of coffee orders, your contactless card to tap in, your tote bag and more. Try squeezing into a busy train, through the barriers or a tiny cafe doors with one – you instantly become that person everyone has to dodge around, or maybe start expecting things to slip from your hands eventually.
- They are single-purpose hunks of plastic and faux leather, the moment when you are not carrying drawings, they just sit here, on your floor, useless, taking up space, like some awkward low-quality monument to "presentation day" anxiety, the whiteboard in the room is already frustrating enough.
- And honestly, they look like trash. Either "cheap office supply logistics", "wannabe creative professional" or "student with false hopes" with fake leather and awful stitching. The work inside might be thoughtful and beautiful, but the thing carrying it? Hideous, just, awful, it drags the whole vibe down.
I am not here to insult whoever using these to carry papers around, they do get the job done, which is to carry drawings, but apart from that, they are in need of a huge improvement in my belief.
It is time, in search of a new bag, or maybe, design a new one, given I am too broke to pay for designer bags or slop brands backed by private equities.