Dundee University
First Class Honours
nesk camera Bag
Honours Project
Nesk is a completely waterproof, quickly accessible, modular full-frame camera bag made for wet adventure sports. It is designed to fit the body without getting in the way of other equipment required for a sport. Its multifunctional connector can also be attached securely to existing equipment.
What sets nesk apart from other camera bags is its specific design tailed to wet aquatic sports. Currently there are extremely limited retail options available for small form factor water and impact proof bags.
From my insights, I deduced there is a demand for the nesk bag as many niche aquatic sports where people do take cameras currently use homemade solutions which are not tailored to support the photography and can get in the way of the sport. These sports include canyoning, sea and whitewater kayaking, ice climbing, sailing and more.
My aim was to design a bag that not only protect the camera from water or impact damage but also improves ease of access to the camera for improved photo opportunities, provides confidence in the cameras protection and make taking a camera not a hindrance to enjoyment the sport.
The sport is the main hobby, not the camera.
Video
How nesk can be used
nesk has been designed with modularity in mind in order to adapt to different water sports styles, equipment and photographers preferences.
Having a multifunctional connecter and multiple connection points located on each bag allows for complete modularity and choice of various configurations.
By using the utility strap and belt, nesk can be worn or attached in seven configurations: haversack, side hip, waist, bum bag, back hip bag, front cross body, shoulder strap and carry bag.
Features
The multifunctional connector
The multifunctional connector located on the bags allows for it to be fixed to the provided belt securely, or alternatively any gear with straps, such as a harness or buoyancy aid.
Under bag straps
The under-bag straps have two main functions. The first offers the option of strapping gear to the underside of the bag, like a small tripod or extra rope for climbing. The latter reason is to allow the bag to be attached to non-strap compatible spaces, such as boat masts or bars.
Hot swappable lens bag
The lens bag has been specially designed to allow the user to change lens’ with one hand. This is achieved by providing an angled ledge to place one lens on, then on picking up the new lens the previous one will fall into the place of the previous lens, ready for the bag to be closed.
Double dry bag
The outer PVC later works as the main protector against water to the camera, the inner TPU layer is also completely waterproof and fits tight on the inner layer and becomes watertight when rolled in unison with the PVC. This gives more assurance that the camera gear is safe, even in the event of the PVC layer failing.
Connecter points
The metal O rings, and D rings found throughout the bags can be used for attaching them to the added straps or through the carabiners to attach to gear or vehicles.
Neoprene layer
The neoprene base layer’s main purpose is to absorb any water droplets that made it inside the bag when open. This material will hold the loose water at the bottom of the bag to help avoid water damage to the camera.
Connecting strap point
Located on the bags are staps for the optional choice of adding more bags using the multifunctional connecters and building it out to fit the user’s needs.
Deconstructible
The nesk bag can be deconstructed into 4 layers, allowing for easy drying and cleaning in the washing machine;
Outer protective shell, pvc dry bag, TPU iner dry bag and neoprene base layer.
The outer shell
The foam filled outer bag or shell has various functions, the main one being to provide padding protection from impacts. It also protects the PCV dry bag from punctures. The foam is rated for water sports and used in the manufacturing of buoyancy aids. This provides extra buoyancy when floating on the surface of the water, allowing for easy recovery. This also ensures that it is mould resistant and sheds water, remaining light.
Multiple bags
nesk features multiple bags - the number and location of which can be decided by the user to suit their specific needs. There are designated bags for the camera, the lenses, and a water bottle, which offers the user flexibility of choice before each adventure.
Design solution
One of nesk's big innovations compared to other camera bags was that the bag does not necessarily need to be completely waterproof.
My designs were being limited by the idea that everything needed to be waterproofed, making design cumbersome or so simple that it did not achieve set out goals.
I found my solution from the design of buoyancy aids. Let me explain, B.A’s are not waterproof, they are designed to be a protective layer against impact to the chest and provide buoyancy with extra pockets and safety attachments. They deal with water by allowing it to soak in and around the foam and then drain out through the holes on the bottom.
I realized I could apply the same principles. The foam was to provide padding to protect against hard knocks and falls, and whether it was wet or dry it would still work. As a result, the outer non-waterproof layer allowed me to design and incorporate more usable features without compromising the waterproofing protecting the camera that was so limiting to my designs and that of other ones available to consumers.
One somewhat downside with this idea was the need to dry off the camera bag after use, however, if you plan to be involved in wet adventure sports you will most likely have plenty of equipment needing dried after use. So, I feel it is not that much hassle having one more.
Branding
Another distinctive design choice about nesk compared to other camera bags is that it is designed, branded and marketed towards the outdoor community first and foremost matching there aesthetic. This is in stark contrast to other camera bag companies that focus on photography only, trying to create that city slick athletic.
Everything about nesk is in bright contrasting colours, which is in-keeping with aesthetic outdoor brands such as Patagonia and Rab.
This stays true to the beginnings of the nesk, which was born out of an exploration of whitewater kayaking and is named after a popular kayaking river section named nesk, short for North Esk.
Development
A small collection of my development ideas, sketches and models, used to help me develop the final product for the nesk brand.
In anticipation at this point of development I was going to be using a completely waterproof material for the bag. I used plastic bags and tape as a cheep readily available stand in to replicate the characteristics I was expecting to work with to test my sketched ideas.
The models were useful in exploring shape on the body ease of use and helping me to work out what size of bag I wanted to create and in what shape. They were also a fantastic conversation starter when I would give them to kayakers to try on, providing me with valuable insight into what to consider with a design going forward.
Development after my insight from the Buoyancy Aid.
