The week with the sampling. (Week 4)

This week was mostly comprised of making the box sample, ordering the bag, designing logos for the various modules and planning the final outcomes. It was a busy week but it felt a little boring compared to week 2. Week 2 was spent asking, evaluating and designing the batik design. To come with a design that represented a country. That process felt more fun than the process of making these kits. Week 3 was focused on perfecting the Batik true design and perfecting the Singapore kit's identity and doing that helped me establish a set work ethic on how I would approach each country's designs. From there I began developing the sample kits. The Bindle, the Box and the Bag. However, with these kits I have a new dilemma. WHAT AM I GOING TO PUT IN THEM.

The bindle was simple and allowed you to literally dump whatever u want in them and travel. But the bindle was way too old school, the concept of literally bundling up your home and travelling with it is cool and all. But not convenient. The bindle was too 'fragile' and loose in carrying items in it. It felt too cheap and loose. Hence, from there I went to try and sample, The Kit/ The Box.

The Box was originally the idea that I liked and really wanted to reproduce. The box was designed to fit all the items in it firmly and the protect the items which the bindle couldn't. The box was compact, organised but not very transportable. Easy to deliver, YES. But not easy to reuse in the sense of carrying it around. The box after it's used would either be chucked away or kept in a corner to collect dust. Visually, it looked cool and practically it served its purpose but I wanted something more reusable and 'fun'. Then, I moved on the bag.

The bag felt PERFECT. From Day 1, when the drawstring sample I ordered arrived, it felt like the perfect care-package. The drawstring bag from Contrado came with the Batik printed on it and unpacking the bag felt very good. Opening the box to reveal the batik design felt special, to see the design of home printed on it. And the bag's dimensions were perfect to fit a good amount of items in it. The bag was my answer in a way. The bag was compact, easy to transport and had reusability value. I could carry the bag anywhere, and seeing the design on it significantly reminded me of home. And overall, the bag was my preferred sample. Week 3 came to a close with me deciding on the bag. The plan now is to decide what I'm going to put in these bags to make them the homesick kit that I want.