2025–2026 · Product Design
Kinetica
Where structure meets motion — a premium carry system engineered for the demands of modern life.
2025–2026 · Product Design
Where structure meets motion — a premium carry system engineered for the demands of modern life.
Incentive
For millions of urban commuters, public transportation is the only option — yet the experience consistently fails them. Safety, comfort, and ease of navigation remain unresolved pain points that shape daily life in every major city.
Modern city commuters are navigating systems that were never designed with them in mind — crowded platforms, unpredictable delays, and environments that feel anything but safe or welcoming.
Feeling Unsafe
Poorly lit stations and unpredictable crowds make every trip feel like a calculated risk.
Physical Discomfort
Bags built for looks, not transit — turning a 45-minute ride into an exhausting endurance test.
Unreliable & Hard to Navigate
Delays and confusing signage drain confidence — making every transfer feel like a gamble.
Background
The modern professional carries more than ever — yet the bag market has failed to keep pace. Kinetica was designed to close the gap between fashion-forward aesthetics and the genuine ergonomic demands of everyday carry.
$19B
Global carry accessories market projected by 2026 — driven by a shift toward premium, functional design
54%
Of daily bag users report back or shoulder discomfort — the #1 complaint across carry product reviews
3.4×
More tech devices carried by professionals vs. a decade ago — yet most bags aren't designed for it
Commuter Voices
We spoke with daily transit riders to hear what the experience is really like. Across every interview, three themes surfaced: anxiety around planning, frustration with payment friction, and a persistent sense of unease that shapes every trip.
I need to plan my trip at least an hour before leaving home, otherwise I will feel insecure...
I am often panicked whenever I try to search for my card from my pocket.
How Might We
How might we improve their journey, focusing on their sense of
security, efficiency, and comfort?
Persona
Jacob is a 28-year-old marketing analyst navigating Chicago's CTA daily. He's ambitious, always moving — and his gear needs to keep up. He's exactly who Kinetica was designed for.
Jacob
Marketing Analytics · Chicago, IL
"My commute is my launchpad. I need my gear to move as fast and smart as I do."
What's in his backpack
Jacob's Journey
Frustrating Moments
When entering the turnstile, Jacob scrambles through his wallet to find the Ventra card — or swipes through Apple Wallet hunting for the right card to pay, holding up the line behind him.
The daily bag-packing ritual is time-consuming and chaotic. Jacob wants his laptop, lunch box, and gear to pack and unpack effortlessly — yet stay fully secured and locked in place during his commute.
On a packed Red Line car, commuters press against each other and their bags. Jacob has no private space at all — and fears his MacBook or valuables could be damaged or stolen in the crush.
Insight Focuses
For those who use a physical card to enter the turnstile, how might users get access to their card easier and smoother — without any hassling or fumbling mid-rush?
"How might we make card retrieval instant and hands-free at the turnstile?"
How to organize inside storage so users can pack and unpack quickly at the start and end of a commute — while keeping every item locked firmly in place during transit.
"How might we design storage that packs fast but holds secure?"
How might we externalize the essentials so that the bag itself acts as a shield — protecting valuables and reducing unnecessary interactions on a packed, unpredictable commute?
"How might we make the bag a barrier between the commuter and the crowd?"
Design Requirements
Every interaction must be frictionless — card retrieval, item access, and pack/unpack should happen in seconds so the commute never slows down.
"I want a bag where I can grab my card and my keys instantly without having to stop and swing the whole backpack off."— Shang
The bag must feel natural at every stage — ergonomic support, balanced weight, and a form that moves with the body through a full day of transit and work.
"I hate that feeling when my water bottle and lunch container float around inside."— Kirby
Valuables stay locked in place and shielded from crowded environments — the bag acts as a barrier protecting against theft, damage, and unnecessary exposure.
"Getting squeezed on a crowded train is the worst because I can feel people pressing right against my laptop."— Sun
Ideation
Initial sketches explored form, access mechanisms, and how the bag interacts with the body and environment — from transit gate swipes to crowded commuter cars.
Introducing
"The performance tool for modern commuters"
Feature 01
Pull to the scanner, snap back flush. Your transit card always a reach away — never in the way.
Pull your card to the scanner without breaking stride — the cord extends smoothly and retracts on its own.
Ultra Retractable Cord
Snaps flush against the strap the moment you let go. No dangling, no swinging — held securely in place until you need it again.
Magnet Lock
Single Card Slot
Holds the one card you actually need — slim, focused, and always ready to pull.
RFID Protected
Brushed shell blocks unauthorized scans — your card data stays protected even clipped to the outside of your bag.
Pull, tap, keep walking. The wallet extends to the reader and snaps magnetically back in place the moment you let go. RFID-shielded exterior blocks unauthorized scans.
Not just for transit — tap to pay at coffee shops, stores, or anywhere contactless payment is accepted. No bag-digging, no fumbling.
Coffee Shop
Badge into the office or any secured entry without breaking stride. The QuickWallet works wherever a card tap is needed.
Office AccessFeature 02
The modular core of Kinetica. A bottom-loading chamber that separates your bulky items from the rest of your gear — swap modules to fit your day.
A dedicated bottom-loading chamber that completely separates your bulky items from the rest of your gear. Slides out and back in effortlessly — no unpacking, no digging.
Bottom-Loading Chamber
Fit in the module that matches your day — a clear lunch box for food, a padded sleeve for gear, or whatever you need. One bag, infinite configurations.
Swappable ModulesSwappable Modules
The UnitBox accepts different modules depending on what your day calls for. Swap in a clear Lunch Box for meals on the move, or a Tech Box to keep all your cables and chargers organized and protected.
Feature 03
The outer shell of Kinetica. A semi-rigid polycarbonate shell that shields everything inside from the outside world — built tough, finished clean.
A semi-rigid polycarbonate shell envelops your gear — transparent enough to reveal what's protected, tough enough to take whatever the day throws at it.
X-Ray View
A clean matte top cap meets a rugged perforated lower section — designed to absorb daily wear while keeping the silhouette sharp and refined.
Dual-Texture FinishDigital Experience
A dedicated customization website lets you build your Kinetica from scratch — choose your modules, colorways, and accessories before it ships.