July 8, 2014 by CallisonRTKL

Surf’s Up

Last week, a group of RTKL designers participated in the Los Angeles Architecture and Design Museum’s annual silent auction benefit. This year’s theme, Groundswell, was intended to celebrate California’s beach communities and raise money to support ongoing revitalization and preservation efforts. Instead of creating a custom surfboard or skateboard like many other participating groups, our team decided to deviate from the expected. A one-month brainstorm process led to a new product that makes life easier for the active beachgoer. Bag 360 is the original surfboard tote. Not only does it help surfers move their boards around town, but it also converts to a compact beach bag for those only looking to carry a few items. The bag also uses sustainable materials and fine leather to create an attention-grabbing fashion accessory. Constructed from beach fence mesh with leather and canvas straps, the bag is durable, functional and beautiful. The design was displayed in the gallery throughout the night and was sold to the highest bidder during the silent auction.

The collaborative creative process was essential to the success of this effort. Our team collaborated internally across sectors and was fortunate enough to have a fashion-savvy RTKLer on the team to help with the design. When you think of architecture firms, product design isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. However, this project proves the effectiveness of a multidisplinary team and a shared passion for keeping inspiration alive during the creative process. We hope to inspire other groups to participate in local design initiatives and continue our streak of successful designs. Next on our list? A tricked out cat house.

Team Members: Daniel Sauerbrey, John E. Chung, Yuwen Peng, Takeshi Kobayashi, Katie Sprague, Kevin Horn, Delta Murphy, Oleksandra Kazymirska, Jude Elledge, Joshua Petty, Noam Maitless, Agnieszka Pierscieniak, Christina Baker, Jill Guerrero, Monica Costa

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CallisonRTKL

For more than five decades, Callison and RTKL have created some of the world’s most memorable and successful environments for developers, retailers, investors, institutions and public entities. In 2015, our two practices came together under the Arcadis umbrella, expanding our sphere of influence and the depth and breadth of our resources. Our team is comprised of nearly 2,000 creative, innovative professionals throughout the world who are committed to advancing our client’s businesses and enhancing quality of life.