Bear Minimum
Product Description
Bear Minimum is the world’s first collapsable bear canister, designed to decrease weight and wasted space for backpackers.
Objective
In a team of 4, choose a user group, find a need for a product, and design a product to the point of having a functional prototype.
Limitations
$200 budget
Duration
One academic semester (fall 2018)
User Research / Key Insights
Backpackers’ two main concerns are weight and space.
Current bear canisters are both heavy and bulky…no backpacker that we interviewed enjoys using them.
Bear canisters are meant to protect your food from bears while in the wilderness, and are required in some areas.
Bear canisters are only necessary at night, while campers are sleeping.
Existing Products
Prototypes
Final Prototype
Final Requirements
Compact
Bear Minimum collapses down to a slim design (< 1 in.) that can be easily stowed away in a pack when not in use.
Strong
A triangular design ensures strength when assembled, while creating a difficult angle for bears attempting to crush the canister.
Smooth
A smooth design leaves no hanging edges or crevasses for a bear’s claw to pry.
Visible
A bright color allows Bear Minimum to be located easily in any environment. This means no lost time searching for your hiding spot.
Intuitive
Colored sections allow for a simple and straightforward build and assembly.
Final Product
