FLTRgo Coffee Filter by Ridzert Ingenegeren

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DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

RI : The main idea was to create a lightweight product that allows travelers to make a drip coffee on the go. I designed it using a clean form language.

DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

RI : The focus has been on creating a durable, yet sleek design. I wanted to enable travelers to enjoy fresh coffee without adding a bulky or heavy item to their travel gear.

DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?

RI : My plans are to have more people enjoy the product. With the extra publicity, potential users will be able to find the product and experience the benefits this design has to offer.

DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?

RI : I usually start by generating multiple ideas of which the client can choose a favorite option or multiple options. In this case, I generated four ideas, and we continued with the one that is now available on the market. The entire design project was carried out over a time span of just over two months.

DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

RI : The design was commissioned, and I strived to make it an environmentally friendly product that people on the go would love to use.

DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?

RI : The client already produced the FLTRgo design and it is currently available for purchase.

DI: What made you design this particular type of work?

RI : The design had to be compact and practical for travelers, which is why I chose to create a collapsible design. It can be folded into a smaller size for convenient transport and storage. Another vital element is the filter itself, made of organic cotton. It is easy to clean and can be reused time and time again.

DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?

RI : The design came into being by following my design process that starts with drawing various options from which the client can choose. Client input and feedback are important factors that influence in which direction I move forward. In this case, no other designers influenced the work.

DI: Who is the target customer for his design?

RI : The main target group is travelers that enjoy drinking drip coffee. There are other groups that also like the FLTRgo. Tea drinkers love to use it for brewing a cup of tea. Zero-waste devotees and minimalists appreciate it because it matches their lifestyles.

DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

RI : It is collapsible, light-weight, easy to clean, and it has its looks that differentiate it from similar products as well.

DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

RI : The client chose the name for the design, FLTRgo. It enables travelers to make coffee with the filter on the go.

DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

RI : The project started with classic pen and paper sketches, after which I drew various ideas using computer drawing software. After I discussed with the client what direction we would go into, I used Computer Aided Design software in order to create design files for prototyping. For an initial prototype in order to validate the dimensions and proportions, I used a cardboard model.

DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?

RI : I think the most unique aspect is its collapsibility and the use of organic materials.

DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?

RI : My client collaborated with me on the design process, after which he continued developing the product with a prototype builder based in New York.

DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?

RI : Technology plays an important factor in creating and producing industrial designs. It starts with the software and hardware used for the design model. The production technology is important too. For example the precision of the bamboo cutting process determines the look and therefore the perceived quality of the final product.

DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?

RI : Analytical research was done into types of food-safe and sustainable fabrics and glues. Antropometric data was used for the handle design.

DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

RI : The way the cotton filter stays within the bamboo frame was the most challenging part to realize. Furthermore, finding an existing type of hinge was challenging, since it had to have the exact dimensions to fit in the bamboo frame. In many cases it is more cost effective to use existing parts instead of custom parts.

DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

RI : I received a personal invitation from the A' Design Award team to submit my design, and it looked like an interesting opportunity.

DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?

RI : During almost every design project, I learn something new about materials and production techniques. This was the case in this project as well.

DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?

RI : I feel privileged to work together with great entrepreneurs, founders, and businesses. I can recommend to other designers to work with people that share your vision, because it enables you to create great products together.