Phoresy Pack Backpack by Stepan Pianykh Is Granted the Bronze A' Design Award in Generative, Algorithmic, Parametric and AI-Assisted Design

Stepan Pianykh honored for generative, algorithmic, parametric and ai-assisted design by the international grand jury of the 2023 - 2024 A' Design Award & Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMO, Italy, April 21, 2024 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Bronze A' Design Award in the Generative, Algorithmic, Parametric and AI-Assisted Design category for Phoresy Pack Backpack by Stepan Pianykh. The recognition forms part of the 2023 - 2024 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.

The Bronze A' Design Award Explained

The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.

Regarding Phoresy Pack Backpack

Phoresy Pack is an ergonomic backpack design with a unique foldable structure. Its structure is produced from a single sheet of genuine leather that has been precisely CNC-milled and creased to form a material that can expand or shrink flat to adjust the backpack's volume. While the final outcome of the project is merely a backpack, the aim of the project was to explore applications of Computational Design and Digital Fabrication principles in the fields of customizable fashion and industrial design.

About Stepan Pianykh

Stepan Pianykh is an award winning multidisciplinary designer with a diverse background in game development, industrial design, digital fabrication, visual content production and lecturing. With about a decade of experience of co-running vosq design agency, Stepan’s primary area of expertise lies in leveraging computational and parametric design tools to create engaging products, content and experiences.

Award Record

This recognition makes Stepan Pianykh a winner of 1 A' Design Award.

About the A' Generative, Algorithmic, Parametric and AI-Assisted Design Award

The A' Generative Design Award is an international design competition recognizing good generative designs from leading creators and designers worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to generative designers, algorithmic design professionals, ai-assisted design experts and parametric designers from all countries. Entries typically include algorithmic artworks, parametric architectures, generative graphics, ai-assisted illustrations, computational sculptures and procedural patterns. Awarded generative designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/generative

About A' Design Award & Competition

A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com

Press Resources

Winner Page: https://designers.org/157236
A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/157236
Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!157236
Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/202195
Further Information from the Laureate: https://drunks.st/

Media Contact

Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953

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Fact Sheet

The Work

Project: Phoresy Pack Backpack
Function: Backpack
Category: Generative, Algorithmic, Parametric and AI-Assisted Design
Discipline: Design Strategy
Industry: Innovation and Design Industry
Colors: Dark Slate Gray, Midnight Blue, Black, Tan and Dark Gray
Images: 5

The Recognition

Laureate: Stepan Pianykh
Country: Georgia
Recognition: Bronze A' Design Award
Edition: 2023 - 2024
Design ID: #157236

Credits

Image Credits: Photographer Timofey Sherstennikov, 2015.; Photographer Renata Garipova, 2015.

Design Details

Unique Properties: Phoresy Pack Is an ergonomic backpack design based on a unique flexible tessellated material. Produced from a single sheet of precisely CNC-milled and folded genuine leather, Phoresy Pack’s structure expands and shrinks flat based on the volume of its contents. While the final outcome of the project is merely a backpack, the aim of the project was to explore applications of parametric design principles in the fields of fashion and industrial design.
Inspiration: The inspiration for this project came from the works of applied mathematicians like Ron Resch, who developed foldable tessellation patterns, and modern architects like Zaha Hadid, known for using computational design principles. The entire discipline of leatherworking and craftsmanship was a constant inspiration, guiding every detail. In terms of specific backpacks, I drew inspiration from the Meiosis backpack by Davidi Gilad and the Solid Gray backpack
Research: This project combined design and market research to improve backpack functionality, emphasizing ergonomic principles and innovative materials. Utilizing literature reviews, user feedback, expert interviews, and iterative prototyping, it successfully implemented foldable tessellation patterns for adaptability and comfort. The impact reached exhibitions and publications, shaping societal perspectives on technology and craftsmanship in design.
Challenge: The most challenging aspects of the project involved the unconventional production techniques employed to bring it to fruition. While some leatherworking techniques adhered to traditional and well-documented craft methodologies, others, such as CNC milling cowhide leather, had to be developed during the project's evolution. One notable feature of the design, wherein the backside is crafted from a single sheet of leather, meant that any significant defect in the manufacturing stage required redoing an entire half of the backpack. This resulted in a highly iterative prototyping process.
Realization and Technology: The Phoresy Pack is crafted from various types of natural cowhide leather. The back shell is constructed using blue-dyed leather milled on a CNC router, creating a crease pattern for folding and subsequent stitching on the sides. To add elasticity and enable the bag to fold flat when not filled, a separate layer of Spandex is integrated into the shell. The glossy finish on the leather is achieved through a special varnish, making it non-breathable and watertight. This varnish was crucial to ensure perfect adhesion of the leather sheet to the vacuum table during the milling process, preventing damage to the leather caused by gaps between the material and the table.
Operation and Interaction: Despite its transformative properties, the backpack operates in a straightforward manner. It features a single large compartment that, thanks to the elastic properties of the backpack's shell, naturally expands and contracts to accommodate the volume of its contents.
Project Duration and Location: This project served as Stepan’s degree thesis, taking one semester for completion. Initiated in February 2015, it reached fruition by June of the same year. Following its completion, the Phoresy Pack made its debut at the degree show, the End of the Year exhibition at the British Higher School of Art and Design. Subsequently, the design gained recognition through participation in multiple exhibitions, such as: "Faces and Laces" 2015 "Uno" at Center MARS 2018 "Design Next" at the Central House of Artists 2018 Printed features included an appearance in Esquire Russia (July 2015 issue) and inclusion in the book "Ergonomics in Product Design" by SendPoints in 2018.
Specifications: This backpack is of average size, with approximate dimensions of 500 x 320 x 200 mm, offering a total volume of 15 liters. When empty, the backpack compresses to a smaller, flatter size.
Keywords: Backpack, Fashion, Wearable, Computational Design, Leather