WonderShell Backpack

The idea for the WonderShell came from the Brussels Airport bombing in 2016. That event shaped how I thought about the backpack's purpose: not just as an anti-theft accessory, but as something that could offer the wearer genuine physical protection as well as securing their belongings. I designed the WonderShell as a round hardshell backpack for Wonder Designs, built around that dual purpose. The rigid, impenetrable shell was engineered to shield both the person wearing it and whatever they were carrying, combined with a leather outer layer to keep the design fashion-forward rather than purely functional. With the design ready, I brought it to market through a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. The campaign was successful, and the WonderShell went on to full production, selling worldwide.

Challenge

Combining a hardshell structure with a leather outer layer and a separate interior lining meant working with three materials that all needed to function as one secure unit. Once the backpack was assembled, there would be no way to reach inside or make adjustments, meaning every layer had to be correctly fitted and fastened before assembly, with zero room for error afterwards.

Solution

The final design solved the security and style challenge together: a hardshell body wrapped in a leather outer layer and finished with an interior lining, all sealed through one carefully engineered seam. That seam was the sole join in the entire construction, so getting the alignment right before assembly was critical. The outcome was a backpack that was both structurally secure (impenetrable shell, inaccessible interior) and visually polished, fulfilling the project's dual aim of genuine anti-theft function and fashion appeal.