Your brain Of A Yoga Mat Designer… Why Plank’s founder doesn’t want to be #1 yoga mat inside the market…
Best Yoga MatI’m asked every once in awhile how I created idea of creating Plank Yoga Mats. Typically, I give some light, off of the cuff anecdote that I wished to produce a cool looking mat, which was the first goal. However, like a designer, I will be taught to create something that adds value beyond an idea’s original conception. So let’s breakdown a product designer’s # 1 tool, the proper execution and performance tool…
FORM
Imagery: When I first conceived the idea of Art Images on Yoga Mats I found the opportunities of imagery to become limitless. From simple graphics, to loved one’s pets, to yoga symbolism and beyond - every image in the sunshine seemed to be inside my disposal. So for Plank, it was important to define do not know Plank image and just what a Plank image just isn't. Here is a few of, the what Plank images are NOT…
Cute like Pets. Pretty like Flowers. Cool like Clouds
Gag producing, yoga obvious or generic images, e.g. Lotus flowers, OM symbols or inspirational words like ‘Breathe or Karma’
• Exactly what a Plank image is…
Trompe L’oeil or faux realities
Thought provoking, with several layers of interpretation
Ironic, audacious and relevant
Gallery Quality images
The Photographer: Due to the art quality nature of Plank’s images, we thus wish to use photographers who are able to satisfy the design brief and also work with the hidden technical issues which are along with creating high res images for giant surface areas. For this initial series of images, we used Christopher Harting, whose ironic stills, skills best captured our intentions. For people who maybe interested, the logistical stories behind the visual stories of each yoga mat image, 1 day I’ll share…
Materials: It goes without saying that for Plank, the base material for the yoga mat has to be made with the most recent eco technologies and materials. Of all the materials which can be now available, we used Natural Rubber for its density, natural grip qualities and how it can breakdown when you are ready comes to an end.
FUNCTION
Grip: Like a product developer, when making a product, we're typically offered a number of options that may answer the project brief. It really is our obligation then, to weigh the pros and cons of each suggestion. This is a typical question from my supplier: “Do I want the mat being grippy in hot or room temp yoga classes?” Needless to say, my answer was, “I want the mats to get results for all yoga styles.” To which they asked me, however, not using idioms or metaphors, if I want Plank to be a Jack of most trades or perhaps a Master of None. To which, I responded, “We choose Mastery”. Thus, they presented a grip layer that's activated with the pressure and heat from hands and feet. We had this a way to create an incredible training tool to produce mastery of Pose Foundations. Everyone knows training tools are not designed to produce life easier, actually they simply work when all criteria are properly applied or engaged, e.g. Fitness Balls or SLKZ Refiner Pro Graphite Club. These power tools demonstrate muscle memory required or perhaps you fail. Thus, at Plank we clearly state, we make no apologies in the event you slip when working with a Plank Yoga mat. We would like the practioner to find out and apply every square millimeter of these hands/feet foundations with a PYM, to then witness immediately, a power and strength made in their arms or legs. Ideally, once you've gained what we call “Ridiculous Body Awareness” or “Mastery of Foundations” because of employing a PYM, Plank want for you to take this insight to rehearse anywhere, on any surface, without or with a Plank mat.
As a designer, floating my boat = making a creation that looks great and it is often reward enough. However, developing a product which really can really make a difference for an individual’s health insurance and well-being, insurance firms the practioners experience more complex muscle memory, is easily the most satisfying a part of a product designer’s job. Such as the iPhone makes the complex functions of your computer and telephone seamless and simple, Plank Yoga Mats, through yoga, helps to make the deconstructing with the body’s complex technology to produce optimum body effectiveness of power and/or self-healing, immediate, doable and real.
Gift worthy: Plank Yoga Mats were specifically made to produce gift worthy yoga products. It absolutely was an intentional section of the design brief to produce an opportunity for gift buying that may really make a difference to people’s overall health, whether it be a present to self, to get a cherished one or even a consumed with stress boss.
Choosing a manufacturer: When buying a manufacturer to produce Plank’s Yoga Mats, since the idea of Art on Yoga Mats was yet still is totally new for the yoga market, it was vital to discover a manufacturer who has ethical business practices and was prepared to investigate and be vested within the concept. Since Plank’s manufacturing partners practice yoga, they already were connected to the yoga community, and then for me it was their mindset that set them apart. Their core vision would be to look after the environment, their end consumers as well as their partners. Having worked with many manufacturers in Asia and domestically in the US, you just know when this is simply talk or possibly genuine. For me personally, I don’t search for Produced in USA or Asia. What matters in my experience, is, Made with Mutual Respect.
Plank doesn’t mind not being the #1 grippiest yoga mat on the market spot to service all types of yoga styles and levels. However, what matters to Plank is that we are the amount #1 yoga mat to teach. We teach bigger and freer plus more expansive poses what are results of a muscle memory experience that allows the practioner to know what it takes to make truly grounded and real solid foundations.