Dutch Design Week 09: in Eindhoven this week graduate designer Erik De Nijs of Nieuwe Heren presents a set of suitcases that can be combined to form a sofa when not in use.
Called Suited Case, De Nijs aimed to produce something that reminds users of the familiarity of home whilst travelling.
The design includes four pieces of luggage that have been covered in fabrics associated with sofas.
See all our stories about Dutch Design Week in our special category.
Here’s some information from the designer:
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The ‘suited case’ is a project which is inspired on the idea of people waiting during their trip. People often go and rest sitting on their suitcases, that is the starting point of this design.
I created a living room couch which is built from a suitcase set. The set is meant for 2 people, consists of 2 pieces of hand luggage and 2 pieces of large luggage. These parts of the set can be put together as a couch at all times when there is waiting involved. So you take your own comfortable living room couch with you on your trip.
This concept came from a research on nostalgia during travelling. When a familiar object from home is taken with you on a trip you feel much more at ease. And which object is more familiar then your own comfortable couch.
The fabrics which are used to cover the suit cases emphasize the homely feeling. I searched for a combination of fabrics which amplify each other and which create a prominent image. By using prints on the large luggage and the pad on the hand luggage I tried to put down a lively picture.
Finally there are some typical suitcase elements, like a big zipper, handles and wheels. These elements show the suitcases when the couch is constructed.
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Posted by Jasmin Gunkar
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:12 pm
I love this! ahhahaa!!
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:49 pm
clever!
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:11 pm
suitcases again?
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Brilliant piece of design – clever, colorful and fun. I love it!!!
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Hopefully the beautiful finish is removable/washable etc. The luggage gets all kind of dirt and abuse and it’s hard to imagine you take it back home and let your kids play on it without cleaning it first.
Assuming that you can handle the extra volume of padding on your luggage, this is a great idea. Just needs some practical solution to basic hygiene issues.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:49 pm
cool!!! but what if you ran over a doggy poo en transit? i guess you could clean em, but it wouldn’t quite be the same?
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Oh People, please don’t kill a lovely brainwaive over functionality every time. Get inspired by nice but nonfunctional ideas like this!
October 24th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
真是有想法
October 25th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
i love it…very clever and well studied behaviours!!!!!!!!
October 25th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
clever? must be missing something. why does everything from that einhoven design academy have to be an object that can also be another object and then also another object without being one specific object really well. concentrate on a single product and do it well instead of all these unrealistic stories that only end up in a gallery and not in real use. this is not brilliant at all.
October 26th, 2009 at 8:58 am
great idea :p
October 26th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
@llamingflips
This is not from the Design Academy. This says something about your way of thinking. Get out of this box your in and try to imagine anything.
November 2nd, 2009 at 12:38 am
It’s a product made by a student out of utrecht and was shown on the graduates sections of the design week along with eight other people (www.utrechtverplettert.nl). It’s a great idea and it’s comfortable as well! Get out of your box and see you will enjoy it! Good job erik!
November 4th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
this is a neat idea…especially if you travel a lot although you’re going to packing more than the essentials with this type of luggage but it beats sleeping on the floor when you missed your flight and have to wait till the next morning to check in (I work for an airline this happens often)
November 5th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
After three trips, with all dust and moisture gained in planes, trains and buses, I doubt anyone would sit in this.