Above the Fold: Kenneth Bontje, Industrial Designer
Enter a caption (optional)In Above the Fold, we spotlight individual members of Coroflot's vibrant creative community. The idea is to take you behind the scenes and inside the minds of talented Coroflot members who we think are doing exceptional work. Coroflot was created by designers, for designers, and Above the Fold is the place where we can talk to creatives about work that we not only love, but think you'll love too!
This week we are talking with Seattle-based Industrial Designer Kenneth Bontje, who is something of a jack of all trades when it comes to design but generally keeps his professional focus on outdoor gear and equipment.
Enter a caption (optional)Was there a specific moment in life where you realized you wanted to pursue a creative path?
Kenneth Bontje: here wasn't really a specific moment where I realized I wanted to pursue a creative path. I grew up with parents who always encouraged creativity. There was a lot of tape and crayons involved. When I was four or five, I met my lifelong friends Travis Wingate and Scott Variano. We would draw cartoons in the margins of our notebooks then laugh about them later. Together, we went through the rest of middle and high school continuously improving our doodle skills. We took art classes, sculpture classes, graphics classes, and stage tech with some of the most inspirational teachers. When it came time to decide what I wanted to peruse in life, it was a relatively easy choice.
Who are/were your design heroes?
Margaret Minardi, HS Art Teacher: She inspired me to use creativity as a tool and to take it seriously. I also met my future wife in her classes.
Leonard (Lenny) Bacich, 3-D Professor, Pratt Institute: He taught me to look past the function of objects and see their beauty instead.
Allan Chochinov, Product Design Professor, Pratt Institute: I learned a new level of responsibility to our planet, our resources and our people from Allan.
Robert Langhorn, Portfolio Design Professor, Pratt Institute: He taught the second semester of my portfolio class when (thankfully) our first-semester professor didn't come back. Robbert taught me the rules to successfully market myself as a design professional, though I admittedly have trouble following them:
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Can you share some details about your most recent project?
At my office, we had a collection of bags that were underperforming our expectations. The task was basically to "start over."
The first step was to identify what wasn't working about the existing bags by surveying our sales team and doing competitor research. I found that our prices were higher than the competition, the bags were missing industry specific features, and the construction/materials didn't make the consumer feel like their luggage was secure. So I went to work finding solutions for these problems.
To bring the costs down, I found a supplier with more efficient production methods and presented a plan to our international team to consolidate our global purchasing. This brought our costs down significantly. So, I used a portion of the cost savings to invest in features like fin pockets and packing straps.
The original bags were designed to be lightweight and simple because of airline restrictions. Unfortunately, this made the customer feel like their luggage wasn't secure. So, I worked with our factories material suppliers to find fabrics that felt more robust. Then I did comparison tests between the materials we were using and the new ones to make sure they would be strong enough to withstand the airlines.
After the new designs had been vetted with our international team, we launched the new bag line and it over performed our expectations.
Enter a caption (optional)Are you currently working on any projects?
Yes, many, and always. My favorite is a tiny little safety knife. It's a real stocking stuffer.
Walk us through some of your process for creating.
Step One – Google … a lot. We all stand on the shoulders of our predecessors, so do some research.
Step Two - Compile that research and assemble a brainstorming team. If you can't find anyone, try enticing them with beer (a completely underutilized design tool.)
Step Three – Quickly draw ideas. Don't waste time rendering. Unless a cool rendering is the end game, in which case, have at it.
Step Four – Make models out of easy to manipulate materials and make scale elevations in illustrator. Then ask your team for feedback.
Steps Five, Six & Seven - Change illustrations, resubmit for feedback, give them beer.
Step Eight – Make a scale model or have the supplier make you a model using your elevations with material callouts.
Step Nine – TEST EVERYTHING
Step Ten – Suffer through distributing every product detail to every facet of whatever company you work for until the end of time, then repeat …
What is your favorite project that you've completed (professional or personal) and why?
My favorite project is usually whatever personal project I'm working on at the time. I recently started working on a collection of vector illustrations which target the sports industry.
What tools (physical or digital) do you find yourself using repeatedly?
The latest Illustrator with a Wacom Intuos 4 and a blue X-ACTO Gripster (Pantone 2945C)
Is there any work out there that you've come across recently that you've really loved?
Osprey (packs) developed a lightweight suspension system called the Anti-Gravity. It's brilliant and whoever came up with it deserves recognition. It's basically a piece of mesh stretched over a concave plastic frame so the weight of your hiking pack is evenly distributed, contours to hug your back, all but prevents "swamp back" and is very lightweight. If anyone at Osprey wants to reward me for this plug, I'd gladly accept a size large.
Do you have a ritual for getting in work/design mode (music you listen to, certain exercise, food you eat) aka a productivity tip?
Sleep as consistently as possible. Designers regularly get emotional attached to one part of their project or another, and we call it passion. Most of us like to put on a callused and impartial face with only the best interest of a successful product in mind. Some of the best designers I know do this well. But most of us have our favorite this or that about whatever we're working on. When that favorite thing gets nixed, even if it's for good reason, it hurts to let it go. So, sleep it off and feel better the next day.
Outside of your professional life, do you have any other creative outlets or hobbies?
I draw. I used to draw constantly but I've slowed down recently because of life. But I still make a point of drawing when I get the chance.
Enter a caption (optional)If you're stuck on a desert island and can only bring three (design) tools, what are they?
The blue X-ACTO Gripster (Pantone 2945C) with the biggest replacement X-ACTO blades pack
A lighter
A Fontus Airo water bottle (It pulls water out of the air and is solar powered. Really cool.)
Do you have any tips for getting the most out of your Coroflot portfolio?
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Anything more is clutter
To see more of Kenneth's design work, check out his Coroflot portfolio!
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