The Essential Kit Bag gives weightlifters just enough space to carry what they need in the gym.

What's The Problem?

Weightlifters are missing a good way to carry their equipment during their workout. Gym bags are the go-to, but some lifters prefer not to carry their bag during their workout, though they might have too much to comfortably carry. Some gyms, like LifeTime, do not allow members to carry a bag onto the gym floor in the first place.

My Approach

To identify how to create a new, unique gym bag, the approach is first to interview weightlifters and find what they carry with them during their workout. Once the minimum standards for a product are identified, I can move into market research and find which products best align with the user's needs.

What Do Weightlifters Carry With Them?

By conducting surveys, it was found that a majority of weightlifters carry straps, wrist wraps, and earbuds with them. Most responders had a few items that only they carried, leaving a demand for flexible space in the product.

Non-Male Targeted Space

While weightlifting is a male dominated activity, the market for mini gym bags is targeted towards women, leaving an opening for a male-targeted product.

Vision and Innovation

My goal is to create a gym bag with dedicated spaces for straps, wrist wraps, earbuds, and extra flexible space that is as small as possible and can be easily carried around by the user.

Having to integrate technology of some kind, I also plan on utilizing waterproof fabric in the product.

Final Concept #1

Features all of the aforementioned criteria, along with a Velcro strap for quick closure and a carabiner to allow for universal attachment to machines and racks.

Paper Modeling

Using paper, I quickly modeled this concept to test the size and overall feeling of the product.

Design Pivot

Being unhappy with how large the paper model had to be, I decided to pivot on the design and return to the drawing board.

New Criteria

The new objective for the product was to be a smaller, more minimal, and less specific product. This allows the user to take more initiative on how they use the product and gives it the potential to break into other athletic markets.

Prototyping

Through prototyping, not only was I adjusting the form factor for the product, but I was learning how to use a sewing machine for the first time.

Final Model, With Integrated Technology

This final, functional model was fully usable in the gym and made for a great accessory during testing. The integrated technology, awning fabric, makes the product water and dust resistant, so all of the elements of the gym are kept away from the user's belongings.

Magnetic Tag Accessory

The magnetic accessory allows the bag to stick onto machine and racks, keeping the user's belongings off the ground.