SIDEKICK EQUIPMENT
UNDERSTANDING THE PRODUCT LIFECYCLE
The University of Oregon's Sports Product Management Program teaches the business of product creation over an 18-month period in Portland, covering the entire product life cycle from both academic and industry perspectives. In a team of six individuals, I led the product line management duties, including consumer research, trends, and product brief.
Along the product journey, the team learned and demonstrated merchandising, materials management, sourcing, and costing, brand management, factory communication, and sustainable supply chain practices.
Consumer Insights
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Age of Technology.
The younger generation is frequently interrupted by social media, causing unnecessary distractions from balancing school, work, social life, and athletics. This insight has inspired us to further explore the effects of technology on their lives.
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Bag Usage.
The use of specialized sports equipment and accessories during workouts has led to an increase in the usage of sports bags, with a growing need for specialized compartments to provide adequate protection. To address this, we recognize the importance of designing sports bags that can effectively protect athletes' belongings.
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Odor Management.
Football boots accumulate dirt, sweat, and tears, resulting in an unpleasant odor. Consumers often do not store their boots properly, causing the smell to linger in their bags and surrounding areas. To address this, we aim to create a solution that effectively contains and eliminates odor.
Product Brief
CAD IMAGES
Sample Progression
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Sample 1
Upon receiving our first sample, we discovered that the strap did not function as intended and the bag lacked structure due to panel pieces that were too small for proper roll-top functionality.
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Sample 2
Rebranded our company with a new logo. Provides additional structure and two pockets that can accommodate interchangeable functions, including separating multiple pairs of boots or boots and clothing, while protecting valuables by placing the pocket on top.
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SMS Sample
Primarily aesthetic changes, with changes made to the logo placement, color, and strap branding, allowing consumers to customize their bag with their name, number, and team
PRODUCT IMAGES
Takeaways
By going through this process with my team, I was able to learn to create for consumers’ problems. Some takeaways from this process included:
Understanding the process from problem identification to delivery of an insight
Appreciating how consumer research is integrated into the business
Translate athlete and consumer insights into innovative product solutions
Evaluate a product based on performance, style, and competitive positioning
Understand the role as a developer, within the triad.
Develop mastery of key developmental skills such as tech pack and BOM creation, factory communication, and the planning of key gates and dates within the development calendar.