Team Project
Members: Mudi Hou/ Han Hu/ Zihan Wang
3 Weeks
Photoshop/ Blender/ Procreate
SlideFlex
SlideFlex project designs a carrying bag that reduces physical risk for Everest porters through guided load movement.
This project was inspired by both Han and me our personal experience climbing Mount Everest. We witnessed large amounts of garbage left on the mountain, much of which is cleaned up through manual labor. In dangerous areas, especially on routes in Nepal, Sherpas often carry heavy waste with inadequate equipment, leading to serious injuries or even death. This project asks how design could better support those working in such extreme conditions.
“Since this context can’t be fully experienced firsthand, the project focuses less on simulating experience and more on where risk and responsibility actually land.”
Early Bag Sketches
Discarded Pulley Sketches
Use Case Concept Sketch
Final Version Sketch - front
Final Version Sketch - back
Backpack Usage Sketch
Compared to a typical hiking backpack, this design is not only larger in capacity, but also built with additional load-bearing parts to spread weight more evenly. These added components help reduce pressure on the body and improve stability. As a result, the backpack is less physically demanding, whether it is carried by Sherpas or pulled along the mountain during cleanup work.
Prototype
The bag is designed to expand to carry large amounts of waste and fold down when not in use for easier carrying. When the load becomes too heavy, it can be attached to a rope and dragged instead of being carried on the body. This reduces physical strain and lowers the risk faced by those cleaning garbage on Everest.
Concept Sketches
Exploded-View
Research and Brainstorm
Brainstrom Map
Problem Analysis