Niamh Cockram

This project stems from the fact that even after over 15 years of living in the Highlands of Scotland, I still do not own a waterproof jacket.

This project explores the intersection of camping gear design, weather resistance, and the chaotic nature of youthful outdoor adventures. Taking inspiration from the many calamitous expeditions I embarked on both with family and friends when I was younger, I will reflect on how this gear performed under harsh conditions and often uninformed users. I will use the project to understand the form and function of familiar gear such as sleeping bags, tents and backpacks and analyse their design in terms of durability, comfort and usability. However, I plan to subvert these aspects by exploring the equipment through my own experience, which is one of many failures, broken gear, and hilarious haphazard solutions. I will consider how modern camping gear considers weather resistance and practicality.

Ultimately, this project seeks to reflect realistic camping experiences, rather than idealistic ones, and encourage others to embrace the outdoors regardless of weather conditions.