California Dreaming
A caravan for the "attitudinally young."
Objective
Design concepts for a new travel trailer targeted at the “attitudinally young” while keeping the heritage and cult image of the existing Eriba lineup.
Challenge
The team conducted interviews of existing users to understand current usage of travel trailers. Targeted users were asked to give their perceptions of existing travel trailers as well as features that would entice them to buy or rent a travel trailer. The team also visited a retailer of RVs and travel trailers to learn more about the market as well as testing an RV on an overnight trip in order to discover potential pain points.
Solution
The team designed a concept targeted towards users interested in social weekend trips that provides plenty of features desired by these users. This concept is designed to provide a large space for social gatherings and giving users a sense of community. Based on users’ feedback the team designed an interior that provides for a private, comfortable space for weekend trips.
Light and Power
Large, wrap-around windows and a transparent roof provide plenty of natural light to the interior. They use an electro-chromatic film to adjust the tint based on the user’s desired lighting level. Solar panels in the roof can power the trailer, or, when parked at the user’s residence, can be used to power the home as well.
A sense of community
Early on one of the big insights the team gained from younger potential users was that they like to take trips with friends. Entertaining from or in current travel trailers is viewed as a nuisance by younger users. The team focused on creating a trailer that could transform into a space that could provide plenty of space to entertain groups on weekend trips while still giving users privacy when they want it.
Community
The team designed the travel trailer with the vision that users will be able to camp together and enjoy the benefits of camping in larger groups. Younger users especially desire the ability to travel with their friends.
Large Kitchen
Food is seen as an essential part of community, so the team designed the trailer with a kitchen that can be opened up to create a space that allows for the easy preparation of food for groups as well as space for entertaining. This goal was accomplished through a large opening kitchen and a roll-away awning that stores in the overhead cupboards.
Research
The team conducted user research to discover what current users like about their travel trailers and what pain points they wish they could change. Potential users were asked about their perceptions of travel trailers and why or why not they would use them. The team also asked what features and experiences would convince non-users and potential users to buy or rent a travel trailer. Market research was conducted at a local dealer, where the team learned about existing models, their features, and how they are constructed. The team also went on an overnight camping trip in a large travel trailer to better understand the experience of using a travel trailer.
Sketches
The team went through several rounds of sketching to explore the exterior shape and interior layout. Unique features based on user interviews were explored, as were alternative methods of entry and exit.
Team Sketches
Compilation of sketches for the final concept created by myself and one other team member.
Final concept
Interior and Exterior layout and dimensions
Project Notes
Team Members: Jonathan Comeau, Eduardo Dodge, Defne Ozturk
Project Duration: Ten weeks
My Role: Sketching and Ideation, Ethnographic and Market Research, 3D Modeling, Rendering, Team Manager