Design a Rock’n Roll suitcase

• Status: Closed
• Prize: €100
• Entries Received: 23
• Winner: juandelange

Winner

Contest Brief

This project is to design a suitcase or a briefcase that immediately reminds you of those beautiful vintage guitar amps.

The case should use the form language of vintage guitar amps. It actually CAN look like a true guitar amplifier, but it doesn’t have to. Your solution can as well just reflect the design ideas that are typical for this kind of devices. The challenge is to use those typical elements without overloading the case.

The proportions of the case can be anywhere between a rather slim briefcase (for your next meeting) and a more „bulky“ suitcase (for your dancing shoes, beer cans or whatever). If you find a design solution that can be used for anything between briefcase and suitcase - so much the better.

The pictures show our prototypes of vintage-looking guitar amps that we have built over the last couple of weeks. They show characteristics that we feel should or could be part of this kind of amp.

Some typical element are:

- Covering (picture 02 and 03)
Most amps are covered with Tolex, Tolex is a material made out of vinyl, with a structured surface, much like leatherette, but more durable. Tolex structures range from well-behaved to alligator. Some amps are two tone.

- Front clothing (picture 01)
A woven material that covers the speakers without disturbing the sound. Often woven with a combination of different (sometimes glittering) threads.

- Piping (picture 04)
A silver or golden (or whatever), sometimes glittering piping is running around the front clothing to accent it.

- Stringing (picture 02)
Metal strings that are embedded into the housing are another element to make the amplifier even more precious.

- Metal faceplate with knobs, dip switches, lights (picture 03)
Maybe not really necessary on a suitcase that does not have any electronics built in. But these elements might inspire you.

- Handle or carrying strap (no picture).
Sorry, our prototypes don’t have handles and carrying straps yet. We’re working on it.

- Badge (picture 01)
Please use the „Zendling“ badge (or a variation of it) that is shown in picture 01.

You might also want to google for „vintage guitar amp“ or „custom guitar amp“ to get more inspiration (and to possibly find more elements of that form language). Keywords like „Vox AC 30“, „Marshall combo“, „Fender tweed“ or „Marshall stack“ will show you different tastes of the same thing.

Don't worry about manufacturing. Design first.

We don’t care if your entries are hand drawings or renderings or whatever as long as we understand your idea. The most important thing is: Your case has to shout out „This is Rock’n Roll!“

Recommended Skills

• Fashion Design
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• Graphic Design
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