S'well Bottle Carrier.
Reaching new audiences through the development of market-specific product accessories.
Client: S’well
Industry: Consumer Products
Services: Product & Service Design, Experiential and Visual Design, Strategy Development, Industry Research
Design Brief.
S’well, a reusable, insulated hydration bottle company, was looking to grow its sales and expand its offerings through accessories. The complementary products needed to expand functionality, inspire potential customers, and work seamlessly with their existing product line.
Outcome.
FutureTogether delivered actionable research and created a range of concepts and prototypes centered around bottle portability in a variety of user scenarios. Together, we explored ways of enhancing activities with their original bottle design. Our proposal informed the function, materials, and final design of S’well accessories today.
Social Impact.
At the time of its development, S’well aimed to redefine the reusable bottle market with a design and performance-driven product. The founders’ goal was to change reusable product and environmental behavior perceptions. Our partnership uncovered fresh ways to influence new audiences.
Environmental Impact.
According to the New York Times and Euromonitor, one person can displace up to 167 bottles per year by switching to a reusable bottle. Through market research and product testing, we found that promoting reusable bottle behaviors reduces plastic waste and other environmental impacts related to the logistical footprint of processing bottled drinks. These findings impacted accessory materials, finishes, and functionality.
Take It Everywhere.
Our north star was the user need. With a directive to design for users in every scenario, we looked at holsters, cozies, new kinds of caps, and detachable hooks. We explored a variety of materials that were suitable across the audience set, from stainless steel wire to injection molded plastic and silicone.
From Render To prototype.
We prototyped solutions to bring our ideas to life. Three directions were selected for further development—with each one meeting the needs of different user profiles and offering unique presentations of the bottle. These directions served as the base for future accessory evolution.
R&D Specialists.
Together, we generated a wealth of research, ideation, and competitive intelligence for the future of S’well bottles. And based on the successful proposal for bottle carriers, we developed patentable concepts for new kinds of reusable bottles for a confidential S’well customer in addition to point-of-purchase display proposals.
Links & Press.