Often, we go through life not realizing that there are obstacles that can be easily fixed with a little thought and action. It seems to be affecting our thought patterns, with seemingly “unavoidable” issues surfacing to add extra annoyance that we didn’t really need that day. basque bag From two points A direct response to this idea is a solution to a problem we didn’t know we had: the tote.
A tote is a simple pocket bag, usually cotton or canvas. You’ve probably already interacted with at least a couple today. Typically, an elegant solution for getting a small amount of items from point A to B. However, designers are also carrying samples of wood, glass or stone, which are bouncing off the bottom. This presents a problem for all individual objects, as well as for people trying to find the correct specimen. This pain point extends to materials like fabric and paper, both of which easily become cumbersome and disorganized with multiple projects running at once. Designer and Founder of Two-Point, Jordan Cammaratashared more behind this design in an exclusive interview with Design Milk.
What pain points in the design industry led you to BASK bags? Any specific experiences?
This bag was born from my first project to warm upExpert furniture curators and providers. Brian Shugre and Adam Mims contacted me about some custom projects as well as a finished library within their new space. For anyone familiar with the Finnish selection process, it can be quite complex. We began to focus not necessarily on the object, but on the process. During this discovery period, we were at a major manufacturer showroom for a meeting, and we all came away with the ubiquitous single pocket tote bag. We’re all laying out our single pocket tote bags with different samples on the table, and somehow organizing them into a finished palette. I said, “There’s a lot of brain power here, we could probably design something better.” We not only designed the library, but also designed the means of Finnish transportation to the various locations where the project is taking place.
Did you encounter any unexpected discoveries or challenges during the design process?
Like many design projects, where we started and where we finished was not what we had in mind. I basically had a tray that folded up and was more or less a briefcase. I went down the rabbit hole to explore what this folding tray might look like and realized that ultimately a tray wasn’t the right form factor. The more we thought about it, a bag was ready for the perfect solution. Bags are generally light. If they are constructed correctly, you can make something quite sturdy and also relatively affordable. “The samples are sharp, you could have a shard of glass on your jacket,” said Sandra Levesque, an interior designer. He recommended, “Why don’t we add some flaps to protect the contents and add some stiffness?” Before you know it, we’ve added flaps to our model. He also mentioned that all the designers on the interior team came with a white tablecloth. At a client meeting, there will be a wooden table or some type of dark surface, and you will want to be able to lay out a blank canvas for your samples. This ultimately led us to the matte design. It’s soft stuff, it’s light, and now you have that blank canvas. That was a wonderful moment for us. I’m no hero here, one of my favorite things about Two-Point is the collaboration.
Design samples are relatively heavy, with some packs containing only concrete and stone. How did this idea influence the final design?
We didn’t want to solve every use case with BASK bags. We wanted to address a very specific moment in the design process, and take into account perhaps 90% of usage locations within that snapshot. In our research, we found that often a customer is given a curated list. From hundreds of options, they will shortlist and present it to the client digitally. They can reduce it to three, and then go to the client meeting. We really tried to focus on how that process actually goes, and designed for a more curated list of finishes, not a bag that can hold 100 pounds. The center gusset was supposed to be open and the deepest pocket so you could store large carpet samples, or wooden planks. The flaps have handles integrated into them, and the shoulder strap is meant to distribute the heavy weight perfectly.
How does your background influence your process and finished product?
I basically went to business school, dropped out, discovered industrial design and kind of started over. Most of my friends that I went to high school with and went through a four-year program were finishing at that time. I was really lucky to be the right hand man to a designer at New Hope and interned for four years. After graduation, I worked for all types of companies, from designer roles to bill and account executive roles to production management roles. At the end of the day, whatever you’re designing needs to be built. It should be produced at a price point where you can eventually sell it to your target customer at a price they are willing to pay, without disrupting the design process. Those obstacles can kill ideas early in the process. That’s why it’s amazing to live in Los Angeles, where you have such an amazing design community. You can really make anything here relatively affordably and quickly. It is a combination of experience and collaboration, and is part of this vibrant manufacturing landscape.
Your studio, Two-Point, launches in 2023 – can you share any takeaways from that experience after honing your skills in the industry?
The studio happened organically – you learn along the way. I didn’t necessarily have a plan, but I had relationships and people that I’ve been working with for over 10 years in the industry. I started going to meetings and having coffee and seeing what people were working on. Ultimately, Brian and Adam of BASK were kind enough to invite them to attend their new office. That first project really catalyzed the whole business, and I discovered that there really was a greater need in our industry for a very specific type of custom product design firm. The one that bridges the gap between those two points is where we get our name. Whether it’s a business person or a designer working with a manufacturer, it can be kind of a chaotic conversation. Very engineering heavy, ‘let’s get it done’ kind of thing. That was really the genesis of the company. I’m usually saying yes to projects that other people say no to, so those are one of the things that need to be designed. I’m really liking these little pieces. I’m also interested in growing and expanding further, and we’re competing on some bigger projects. Excited to do big things, take charge of the staff. We are trying to grow organically, not too fast, and in the right ways. It’s a lot of fun, and I’m liking the process so far.
Jordan Cammarata
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