Jeff Mullins | Pack Designer

You are going to quickly discover that I like packs. All of them. Daypacks, technical packs, lifestyle packs, you name it. I like designing them, testing them, tweaking them, wearing them.

I’m assuming you like them too, maybe even have ideas for some new ones? You’re at the right place.

Click through, get the gears turning, and lets talk packs!

Jeff
jeff@pack-designer.com

ps. I have nothing against bags. Travel bags, shoulder bags, school bags. I like them too.

I was enlisted by Carhartt’s new team for packs and bags to design their entire new launch of work gear. We focused on the Legacy Series: a line of work bags designed after the iconic Carhartt® cotton-duck pants and jackets.

Items ranged from:

- On-site work packs

- Duffels and briefcases

- Soft-sided tool bags

- Modular tool belts and accessories

- Bucket organizers, tool rolls, coolers and more

High-tech water-resistant Elements gear and casual E89 lifestyle bags were also part of the launch. Overall its been a huge success, with updates and additions being added every year.

Featured Product: Legacy Deluxe Work Pack

- Heavy duty Poly with Rain Defender® durable water repellent and Duravax™ base

- Dedicated computer pocket stores up to 17" laptop

- Zippered compartment with tricot lining to store safety glasses

- Two side zippered pockets

- Zippered organizational compartment

- Contour fit shoulder straps

PolarPro® designs and builds camera gear for rugged conditions, and they reached out to create a line of camera bags for just that. Taking inspiration from technical hiking packs and footwear we set out to rethink the typical camera bag and insert.

Featured Product Concept: Molded EVA Camera POD

This was a collaborative side project with two fellow dad/outdoor gear-heads. We noticed a massive gap in the marketplace for gear designed specifically for active families. So we came up with our own.

The DITY concept line consists of packs and bags for kids and families.

It is simple, durable and built for the daily wear and tear of extraordinary families on everyday adventures.

The Dity line is modular, so when your family grows it grows with you.

©2108 DITY Bags, All Rights Reserved

Inflatable lifejackets are yet another category of soft goods that have evolved by taking inspiration from the outdoor pack industry. This is what the team at Ocean Safety® was looking to accomplish with their range of PFDs.

We focused on materials, hardware, and construction techniques to give their products both an aesthetic and functional face-lift. Taking everything the pack industry has to offer and applying it to new products is my kind of challenge!

Featured Product Concept: KRU SPORT PRO - NEW

This Nike® project was for a line of student sport bags that would follow a student from their classroom to the practice field. The designs were to be basic in their function and advanced in their materials and aesthetics.

Featured Line: Student Sport Series

- Front draw-string mesh ball pocket
- Front ventilated athletic gear chamber
- Dual water bottle pockets
- Side compression
- Reinforced bottom

I was the lead in-house designer for Victorinox and later the primary freelance designer for adventure travel products.

The original Swiss Army brand prides itself on precision, function and aesthetic purity, and this criteria carried straight over to their packs, bags and travel gear.

Product lines I was responsible for include:
Propel Series™ - Daypacks and Urban gear
Nth Series™ - Adventure Travel
E-Motion™ - Adventure Travel
TRIAX™ - Luggage
Lingo™ - Luggage

Featured Product: E-MOTION E360™ Wheeled Adventure Pack

- Removable day pack
- Dual side-compression
- Dual compartment
- Daypack organization pockets
- Padded waist belt

Sizes:
28” x 18” x 10”
25” x 18” x 8”
22” x 15” x 7”
20” x 15” x 7”

I was part of a small team pitching for the licensed use of the Cabelas® brand for all soft goods. It was very large in scope and gave me the opportunity to explore new categories of product including Hunting, Fishing and Auto, along with more traditional outdoor day packs and multi-day packs.

Featured Products: XPG™ Pro Fishing Series, Advanced Angler Series

Pack:
- Top-load access to gear
- Front-load access to tackle boxes
- Side rod-holder

Shoulder Bag:
- Top-load access
- Movable organization dividers
- Front and side tackle storage

This particular Jansport® project was for an advanced concept exoskeleton pack. The team had been developing the hard components that made up the back panel, and I was hired to apply that research to the rest of the suspension system and pack. Numerous iterations and prototypes were explored in what proved to be a highly challenging project.

Jansport® EXOS™ Airlift II:
concept sketches and design development