The Slate
Disciplines:: Industrial design
Software: Solidworks, Keyshot, Procreate, Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma
Time: 2024, 6 weeks
A utility blade folding knife for the Urban Explorer. The Slate is minimalist EDC catered to those seeking a reliable and stylish cutting tool without the concerns of blade maintenance or travel restrictions.
Urban Explorers
desire an EDC knife that fits their aesthetic and functional needs—stylish for the city, reliable for the outdoors. Prioritizing a removable blade ensures they can carry their knife with ease during air travel, making it an ideal tool for spontaneous weekend getaways.
Design Criteria
Utility Blade
The use of a disposable blade eliminates concerns about blade damage and ensures compliance with airline travel regulations.
Modern + Minimal
A clean design appeals to the Urban Outdoor Enthusiast.
Rugged
Utilizing durable materials, built to last.
Research
I analyzed many different utility blade and EDC knives to understand blade removal mechanics and materials. This helped steer my design direction.
Ideation
Sketching explored forms, blade deployment, blade removal, and aesthetics.
Development
CAD ideation and prototyping led to three potential concepts.
The Slate; a sleek, travel-friendly EDC for the Urban Explorer.
The Slate features a sleek form with an elegant index-flip and frame-lock design, requiring a single hand to operate. A removable utility blade eliminates concern of blade damage and makes it ideal for airline travel.
Fully machined titanium body and pocket clip option.
