Like the shock absorption in your trainers? Thank the Apollo moon missions. What about that cordless power drill, the joystick on your gaming console, or even the MRI you got when you tore your rotator cuff? Those are just a few of many innovations that have changed our lives for the better with their roots in the moon missions. Neil Armstrong took his first “small step for man” on July 20, 1969, and so to celebrate this half-century of innovation and discovery, Moleskine has launched The Backpack Silver Edition.
The limited edition pack was designed by Giulio Iacchetti, a Milanese industrial designer who has created for great Italian design houses Alessi, Artemide, Magis, and others, including his own brand, Internoitaliano.
“As a child, I was fascinated as I watched the clumsy and hesitant steps of astronauts walking on the moon on television,” says Iacchetti. “I discovered that the enormous backpacks they carried on their shoulders were indispensable for their survival, and that man, spacesuit, helmet, and backpack were as one. This was the inspiration behind The Backpack Silver Edition. It’s an indispensable element, the same color as the moon; lightweight, practical, and metallic. By wearing it you are declaring your intent, your willingness to overcome limits, as well as your tendency to look to the future and take on challenges each day as you travel in pursuit of your dreams.”
To celebrate the Silver Edition launch, Moleskine hosted an exploration-themed exhibition at the Moleskine Café Milan during Milan Design Week, April 9-14, 2019. The exhibition included a behind-the-scenes look at the pack’s image campaign, lensed by photographer and videographer Max Rommel on the slopes of Mount Etna. A video of the campaign can be found here. It’s definitely worth a watch.
Moleskine also hosted a panel discussion called “The Design of Exploration: An Endless Journey” at Casa Corriere (an event space sponsored by Italian newspaper Corriere Della Serra) on April 11. Panel members included European Space Agency astronaut, Samantha Cristoforetti; philosopher, Giulio Giorello; and Iacchetti himself. Each shared their vision of the past, present, and future of human exploration.
For something a little more down to Earth, check out these very non-lunar backpacks that will help you carry all your stuff around right here on the ground.
