This case study shows how integrating electronics into a soft goods product requires more than design — it requires system-level thinking across materials, construction, and manufacturing.
AMPL set out to create the world’s first smart backpack with integrated electronics — allowing users to charge devices on the go without external battery packs.
The challenge was to seamlessly integrate power systems into a soft goods product while maintaining usability, durability, and manufacturability.
This project required treating the product as a system — not just a bag.
Design decisions were driven by how materials, structure, and electronics would work together in real-world use and production.
Explored multiple design directions focused on usability, access, and integration of internal components.
Refined towards a solution that balanced:
Developed internal architecture to house and protect battery systems, wiring, and connection points within a soft goods structure.
Key considerations:
Defined a layered construction approach to support both structure and flexibility.
This included:
Iterative sampling was used to refine:
Close collaboration with manufacturing partners ensured the design translated effectively into production.
Final product integrates power, storage, and usability into a cohesive soft goods system designed for real-world use.
Led soft goods design and product development, including:
If you’re developing a product involving soft goods, wearables, or integrated systems, early alignment between design, materials, and manufacturing is critical.
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