a short gallery of images taking you through my investigation into parametric modelling and its application into a production ready line of luggage trolleys.

having acquired the means for plastic molding, it was time to add a new line of products to our product portfolio at Carbonado. this line of products took shape in the form of luggage trolleys. we set out to create a range of luggage that differentiates itself through accents and accessories. Odyssey is the first of its kind. it features a vertical panel that spans the length of the product. offering the opportunity for bold branding, unparalleled color customization, and texture contrasts.

initial design proposals depicting color variations and the effectiveness of the accent for branding purposes.

 the surfaces of Odyssey depict fluidity, as seen in the natural world through dunes, waves and ripples.

short study into blending surfaces seamlessly, and incorporating fluidity into the DNA of the product line.

the process of creating the final parametric definition involved many rounds of trial and error. the definition works by dividing the surface into a set number of contours. each contour is then divided further into segments. by moving the midpoint of each segment in the vertical direction, a curved profile was achieved. these profiles are all parametrically adjustable. 

the transition from textured to smooth is achieved by a node that calculates the distance of each segment from the edge and uses that information to apply vertical transformations accordingly. simply, further from the edge = more vertical movement, closer to the edge = less vertical movement.

minor changes to any of the node parameters generate widely different results. here I've experimented with the surface transitions, ridge depths, and ridge count to see what works best visually.

the Odyssey lineup. the 55 cm cabin, 67 cm check-in medium, and the 75 cm check-in large.