Sonder Bikes
Fourteen student teams filed into the presentation room, clutching prototypes, material samples, and meticulously crafted pitch decks. After a 5 day design sprint, it was time to show us what they'd come up with. And we weren't disappointed.
The Challenge
As part of our ongoing partnership with Nottingham Trent University's Product Design Department read more about the collaboration here, we set students a deceptively simple brief: make our Radiant sleeping mat and Turbine pump even better.
The catch? Reduce the carbon footprint while improving user experience. Students could tackle one product or look at both as a system, using Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) methodology to guide their decisions with hard data.
I was impressed with the depth of interrogation Alpkit had already undertaken in their sustainability principles and actions, prior to the student project. I felt that helped the students to develop a more detailed focus on the areas where there may have been scope for carbon reduction and tested them to think outside the box. The resulting student work was lifted to a higher level, because of the level Alpkit are already at.
- Michelle Johansson BA BArch(Hons) Architect (NZ) LFA, Sustainability Consultant ADBE Sustainability in Enterprise (SiE) Project
What They Delivered
The breadth of what they presented was incredible. From suggesting innovative new materials to thoughtful designs for disassembly, the students explored every aspect of the products. One group even proposed a creative social impact solution—repurposing the mylar foil from end-of-life Radiant mats as emergency space blankets for vulnerable members of the community experiencing homelessness.
Most impressive, though, was how quickly they immersed themselves in the Alpkit brand. No mean feat in just two weeks.
Standout Ideas
Across the 14 presentations, we saw:
Material Innovation: Groups proposed alternatives like BoHDPE to replace unrecyclable mylar, recycled ABS for pump components, and PVA materials with solid sustainability credentials.
Smarter Design: From baffle redesigns that add sidewalls for female users (complete with the brilliantly on-brand name "The Puffin") to inflation indicators showing when optimal pressure is reached, students found clever ways to improve functionality.
Repairability & Circularity: Multiple teams tackled disassembly, modular components, and end-of-life considerations. One group proposed soluble circuit boards in the pump. Another presented a bead system to add structure to the pump sack for inflation.
Valve Innovations: Several groups identified the valve as an opportunity area, proposing twist valves, improved sealing systems, and redesigned dimensions—all backed by customer review analysis.
System Thinking: Groups looked beyond individual products to packaging, stuff sacks with added functionality, and even QR codes for enhanced user guidance.
Cost & Carbon Wins: One presentation showed potential for halving production costs while achieving significant carbon savings—the kind of win-win we're always chasing.
The Winners
Nick Smith (Alpkit co-founder) and Joel Smeaton (Equipment Product Developer, and ex NTU Product Design student) reviewed all presentations, and the winning team was unanimous: Leah & Shu-Ting.
What made their presentation stand out? Within the first slide, they'd identified and utilized Alpkit's language and attitudes. They presented clear graphics showing material change decisions, offered multiple solutions with argued preferences for each, and delivered it all with humor and confidence.
Every area of the product was researched and improved upon with innovative, detailed design solutions. They backed everything up with an extremely detailed cost analysis potentially halving the price, with carbon savings tied directly to their choices.
As Joel put it: "Incredible presentation. Each area of the product was researched & improved upon with innovative & detailed design solutions. Even offering multiple solutions with arguments for the preferred option."
Leah and Shu-Ting will join the Alpkit design team for a week's placement during their Easter break, working on live projects.
What This Means for Alpkit
This isn't just an academic exercise. While we may not commercialize every specific idea presented, each project sparks fresh thinking that ripples across our entire product range.
We've already identified several concepts being considered for implementation, and the detailed LCA work provides invaluable data that helps us make informed decisions about materials, manufacturing, and end-of-life considerations.
The partnership challenges us to think differently, brings diverse perspectives to our design process, and ultimately helps us design products that tread lighter on the planet while delivering better experiences for our customers.
Year four of this collaboration, and we're more excited than ever about where it's heading.
Want to learn more about how we're building sustainability into our products? Read about the partnership.