Samsonite is presenting a new suitcase design which aims to “break travel habits” with its innovative features. Called IBON, it is the result of a collaboration between Samsonite R&D and the Belgian design agency Achilles and has already been awarded the Red Dot Design Award (Best of the Best) and the Red Dot Innovative Product Award this year.
The innovative suitcase’s numerous “features that challenge the status quo of travelling” will be presented on the sidelines of this year’s Milan Fashion Week by Erik Sijmons, long-time chief designer of Samsonite and creator of the iconic Cosmolite series, who has given shape to his vision of the future of travel in this new type of suitcase. The exclusive presentation will take place at Samsonite’s Store in Milan on 19 April.
Good design should move the customers, improve their lives, and change the world. Good design is always innovative.
Erik Sijmons, long-time chief designer of Samsonite
IBON’s most distinctive innovations are the suitcase’s central one-point closure system that enables easy access and swift closing, as well as its transversal split, resulting in space-saving when the suitcase is open. Both features allow for easy access on the move. It is thoughtfully conceived to contain an entire wardrobe without refolding, making unpacking optional, Samsonite says. The interior compression system ensures secure luggage retention, while the central interior handle offers mobility during packing. The suitcase also provides dual handles on the corners and sides, allowing ergonomic handling, while the telescopic handle is integrated into the hinge and is not in the way when packing.
“IBON is designed from the inside out and pays tribute to the growing trend that values the journey as much as the destination. The unconventional design guarantees increased accessibility and makes IBON a perfect companion for travelling by car or train. It makes living out of a suitcase while frequently staying overnight easier and more engaging and invites new habits of travelling”, the company explains. “Winning a Red Dot: Best of the Best is well deserved as Samsonite designed a new type of suitcase, focusing on the needs of tomorrow’s consumers”, Professor Dr. Peter Zec, Founder & CEO of Red Dot congratulated IBON’s design.
IBON’s features at a glance:
- The transversal split is a space saver when opening the suitcase that doesn’t compromise on interior capacity. The telescopic handle is integrated in the hinge and is not in the way when packing.
- The central one-point closure system allows for fast and easy access. The built-in TSA lock features a latching mechanism to close the suitcase swiftly.
- The patented interior compression system ensures secure luggage retention on both sides of the suitcase. It also creates additional packing capacity compared to traditional methods.
- The central interior carry handle offers mobility during packing, allowing the open suitcase to be carried around, even through narrow doorways.
- Dual handles on the corners and sides allow for ergonomic movement of the suitcase: walking up or down the stairs, lifting into a car boot, opening and closing.
- The design of IBON is registered around the world and multiple patent rights are pending on various technical aspects for the key features.
