Having received prototype development funding as a 2017 Lexus Design Award finalist, Ahran Won approached us at Empire Group with her visionary design capstone, “The moving Capsule.”  Holistically captured in a simple package, the transportable container empowers minimalists, missionaries, and refugees with their fundamental human needs. While the idea behind the concept was fully flushed out, we worked with Ahran to bring her concept from idea to reality. How do these components physically come together? How do they connect securely for travel? How does it unpack? How do the capsules interact and arrange and work together to provide more function and meaning?

AHRAN WON’S CAPSTONE PROJECT

INSPIRATION IMAGERY

Modularity, componentry, fittings, fasteners, furniture

MOVING CAPSULE CONCEPTS

Working within Ahran’s original size and layout, we developed 3 different concepts for how “The Moving Capsule” could come together. Each concept accounted for the 6 essential capsules, a 6 foot long sleeping mat, luggage handle and wheel casters for transporting, and “furniture modularity.” After a few rounds of refinement, “The Burrito” concept was selected to move into final design CAD to produce a full scale prototype.

MOVING CAPSULE CONCEPT RENDERS

MOVING CAPSULE PROTOTYPE

The final prototype was made from:

The Mat: plywood substrate, fabric webbing, vinyl upholstered foam, Neoprene foam inlay, industrial Velcro closure

The Capsules: 3D printed SLA, magnets, laser cut acrylic lids, USB vinyl sticker, fabrics, wood, paint and softouch finish

Travel features: Bent metal with leather handle, sourced casters, MDF, and neodymium magnets.

2017 “MOVING CAPSULE” LEXUS DESIGN FINALIST EXHIBITION

Ahran was able to attend the Lexus Design Show in Milan where she exhibited and presented her award winning design and prototype.