Revolutionizing Travel: The Autonomous Luggage "Case"

Arnaud Gillard's Award-Winning Design Streamlines Travel Experience

Traveling with luggage has long been a stressful and arduous experience for travelers and the infrastructure built to accommodate it. Gillard's design, inspired by the need to ease this burden, proposes a disruptive solution that divests luggage from the traveler. The 'Case' is an on-demand service that delivers luggage from home to destination ahead of the traveler, eliminating the need to own and travel with luggage.

The unique properties of the 'Case' set it apart from traditional luggage. It is a hydroformed aluminium unibody, providing strength and full recyclability at the end of its life. It leverages technologies such as RFID, E-ink displays, electric locks, and digital scales to enhance the travel experience, all without the need for an internal battery, thanks to its two-way wireless charging compatibility.

Unlike traditional luggage, the dimensions of the 'Case' are standardized and optimized for use across the logistics industry. This design improves handling efficiency, reliability, and cuts costs. The 'Case' measures at 380mm x 580mm x 270mm (58 Litres), comfortably storing enough items for a 2-4 day trip. As the number of adopters increases, the cost of transporting the 'Case' will decrease drastically, making it cheaper for a user's 'Case' to travel separately than to travel with it.

The 'Case' is operated using the case.travel app. Once an empty 'Case' is delivered to the user's home, the user places their phone on its lid and unlocks it using the app. After packing their belongings, the user locks the 'Case' by simply placing the lid back on. The app is then used to update the tech with travel details. Upon arrival, the traveler will find their 'Case' waiting for them in their room.

This project, which started in October 2019 in Loughborough and finished in June 2020 in Amsterdam, faced several challenges. One major challenge was deciding whether the product should be owned by the user or provided as part of the service. It was decided that having the product provided as part of the service enabled a better user experience. Another difficulty was the tight specifications set for the project, requiring it to be lightweight, durable, technologically enabled, and optimized for the logistics industry.

Arnaud Gillard's 'Case' is a testament to the future of travel, where luggage evolves to travel separately from its owner, streamlining the travel experience, reducing stress, and minimizing costly infrastructure. This innovative design has been recognized for its creativity and professional excellence, earning the Silver A' Meta, Strategic and Service Design Award in 2021.