Whether you are designing a custom carrying case for medical equipment or electronics, the objective is the same. Your custom case needs to meet all the unique requirements of storing and transporting a specialized product according to industry standards. For this reason, attention to detail is critical to successfully designing a custom carrying case for your product. To help you focus on the right details, we put together the following list of eight mistakes designers make when developing custom-carrying cases.
1. Not Considering Possible Conditions
Your carrying case should function under the conditions it will most likely encounter. As such, you should determine whether your case will:
- Be subject to the handling of baggage attendants and conveyor belts
- Be exposed to extreme temperatures
- Serve in wet environments (boats, plumbing sites)
- Be stored in tight spaces
Any of these conditions will have an influence on several design factors. For example, a case that must endure a lot of shipping and handling will benefit from a shell made of neoprene or nylon. In addition, you may need inner padding to protect sensitive products.
2. Failing to Take Accurate Measurements
Accurate measurements are essential in successful custom case design. Besides ensuring that the products fit properly, precise measurements help protect the contents and increase the case’s functionality. For instance, your case may need to fit in a standardized compartment. The measurements should include the length, width, and height of the product and any accessories, as well as the measurements of any compartments the case will need to fit into.
3. Not Taking the Time to Create a Drawing or Illustration of Your Case Design
When preparing your case for production, your carrying case manufacturer will need more than your verbal instructions to finalize your design. You will need to create a detailed drawing or computer-driven illustration of your design idea. A basic pencil and paper drawing will do. But you can use an online graphic illustrator to create a more detailed drawing. Once you present your illustrated design to a case manufacturer like Tetrafab, their designers will render the case in a 3d CAD file to visualize how it will fit in a three-dimensional space.
4. Overlooking the Purpose of Your Carrying Case
Your carrying case design should effectively support the function of your case. As a result, you should determine whether the case will do any of the following:
- Store delicate technical or medical equipment
- Serve as an emergency medical kit
- Carry temperature-sensitive food products
- Serve as a portable sports equipment locker
- Be a promotional giveaway
Among many others, these functions require serious consideration concerning several design factors. For example, using bright colors can help make an emergency medical kit easy to find quickly. Some materials may be better suited for storing food products than others. And if a case will be used in a promotional giveaway, you’ll want to make sure that you can include your logo in a prominent spot on the case.
5. Forgetting About Accessories
Sometimes, accessories can be the missing link in an unsuccessful case design. For example, imagine a heavy equipment case without caster wheels or a medical supply case without compartments.
Accessories can go a long way toward improving the functionality and longevity of your case. Picking the right accessories may require input from potential users. You can also consult with designers at Tetrafab. They have over a hundred years of collective experience with designing cases for a wide variety of industries.
6. Not Choosing the Correct Carrying Case Style
The style of your custom carrying case will determine how the user will carry it and how much protection it will provide. For instance, it is unlikely you would carry sensitive electronic equipment in a backpack-style case or a messenger bag. If you’re not sure of the style you want, get some inspiration from existing carrying case styles in your industry.
7. Forgetting to Consider Foam Inserts
In some cases, not including foam inserts in your case design can be a critical oversight. You may not realize the high amount of protection and padding inserts can provide for the contents of your case. This is why you should consider how much protection and cushion your case will need early in the design process instead of adding it after the first production run, which could result in the need to redesign your entire case to make room for them.
8. Not Partnering with a Reputable Case Manufacturer
The best way to avoid rookie case design mistakes is to partner with a case manufacturer like Tetrafab. From start to finish, they will work side-by-side with you or your design team to create the carry case that fits your company’s needs. Tetrafab also offers full-service design.
Mastering the Custom Case Design Process
Knowing these common case mistakes will help you avoid disappointing flaws in your case design. For the most part, they involve fundamental aspects of carrying case design, such as conditions, measuring, drafting, style, accessorizing, padding, and collaborating with a pro. If you want to learn more about custom carrying cares design and development, visit Tetrafab.com.
I’m requested to design & build Road-Flight Case style Dream Craft Station. 5 ‘ H x 3′ W x 3’ D. Going over construction ideas with client/fiance. Would like assistance with hardware choices and materials.