Got a client at work that makes all kinds of cases, with a ton of different kinds of aluminum carrying cases — this ranged from gun cases to archery cases to make-up cases. This is another example of a client whose product I can understand: aluminum cases? Okay, yeah, I got that. Certainly the variety can be a bit staggering (I mean, we’re talking hundreds of different cases here — and that’s just the aluminum ones).
Aluminum aside they also make all manner of plastic molded cases, and a chunk of those are actually waterproof cases. One of the interesting things about working with an actually consumer-oriented client is that suddenly I’m working with products that I actually want! Sometimes it’s just cool black diamond hatch design aluminum storage cases that look like they could have a rimbaldi device inside. I don’t really have any use for it, it’s just cool. The cases even come with that cutout foam.
But sometimes I even have practical thoughts for it — specifically using the cases for photography equipment. I do a chunk of photography, including the kind that requires me to cart around giant lights and tripods and stuff. Right now I have a fairly crummy soft-sided case that the lights more or less fit into with much bulging. But if I could have a couple of their big ol’ plastic or aluminum cases with the EVA foam inserts I could cut out exactly the shape that I need to cradle the ridiculously expensive lights and their fragile bulbs (and those bulbs are $35 a pop too).
Or even better, I could get one of the really big aluminum cases on wheels — they’re typically sold as trade show cases or product cases — and I could just wheel those lights around, because they are heavey. I could also, of course, make wee cutouts for the tripods and clamps and other junk that I need. The best part of it is that I would no longer be wrestling with the laws of physics trying to get everything to fit inside the damned case. Just plunk it into the hole in the foam and snap the latches shut, then take off.
Yup, I can see that looking through these cases every day could be an issue!
