Nest Pack
Storage and shelter product designed for the unhoused in NYC
Capstone project: 2024
Unhoused individuals are using whatever objects that can find and MacGyver to make living on the street more comfortable
5 Thoughts to Keep in Mind
Why not create the solution people are already trying to solve?
These show the struggle to transport and store belongings with no permanent residence
1 .
Portability
2.
Comfort
3.
Safety
4.
Aesthetic
5.
Scale
Laws and regulations are making it harder for the unhoused
New York
Camping is legal so there’s room for a product to make this easier
Loitering is illegal so giving people a place to reside is important
Sadly, there are so many individuals living on the streets that aren’t in the shelter system
My research found that some people actually preferred the street over a shelter because of the poor conditions
There can be strict rules
Unsafe conditions
Items are often stolen
Little or no space for belongings
Product research
Looking at what people used on the streets and what products could be used for this concept
Bikes
Tent Clothing
Shopping Carts
Suitcases
Scooters
Day Beds
Campers
Tents
Hammocks
Backpacks
ETC…
Ideation
The Idea
An overall frame, one half telescoping into the other
2 wheels with a circular compartment in between to create a lockbox for important belongings
Attached backpack that can be strapped on and off easily
Tent attached on top when the frame is stretched out
I was inspired by the framing that some hiking backpacks utilize for more support and structure.
This led me to taking this concept a step further to transforming this frame into a bed
The Product
Transformative Shelter, from backpack to tent
Backpack mode makes transportation easy while keeping belongings intact
Featuring a lock box compartment to store important documentation, money, etc from being stolen or lost
The Transformation
Legs slot in
The frame expands
The tent is connected ontop
Components
2-part frame
6 legs
4 rubber feet
fabric bedding
1 storage compartment
2 wheels
1 backpack
1 tent
In Context
Or setup with the tent with the lock box ready for use
It can be pushed around as a cart
Prototyping
The lock box compartment was all 3D printed with PLA
The frame was constructed out of 1 1/2 in pvc piping
the frame was connected with different pvc adapters
