New Hybrid Backpack Transforms into a One-Person Tent

It's every hiker's dream - a backpack that turns into a sleeping shelter. Created by industrial designer Ragnhild Lubbert Terpling, the 'Urban Rough Sleeper' was motivated by a desire to help the homeless.

'It is inspired by real experiences of homeless people living in the streets', Terpling says. 'The Urban Rough Sleeper supports and improves the current lifestyle of the homeless by meeting some of their most basic needs: storage, mobility and shelter'.

The backpack is being sold to hikers and outdoor enthusiasts and ten percent of the profits are going towards the provision of Urban Rough Sleepers for the homeless. 'Thereby the homeless share their experiences from life in the streets with young campers,' Terpling explains. 'And the young campers make it possible for the homeless to get the Urban Rough Sleeper for free.'

Terpling studied at both the Kolding School of Design and the Aarhus School of Architecture. She and Line Hoeg-Mikkelsen develop and sell their designs through their Aarhus-based studio, Good Design. Other projects include the 'Hood', which aims to increase kitchen space, disposable tableware for Fair Trade, and 'Night Ride' - a 'new kind of taxi service'. The latter won the 2010 Pressalit Design Award.

[via PSFK]