Zühlke Employee Backpack
Client snapshot
Zühlke is an international innovation and technology services company with Swiss roots. To equip its employees for commuting, client visits and business travel, Zühlke wanted a backpack that its people would be proud to carry and that would represent the brand with confidence.
The challenge
Zühlke was clear from the start: this could not look like a typical promotional bag. The backpack had to stand out in the crowd, feel like a premium everyday product and carry the brand in a way that was distinctive without being loud.
The brand had to show in the details. The zippers needed to match Zühlke's purple primary colour, and the interior had to be purple as well, so opening the bag would reveal the brand.
The functional brief was just as specific. The backpack needed a dedicated laptop pocket, a separate tablet pocket, and an RFID tag on the inside that could be personalised with each owner's data.
The solution
Rather than starting from scratch, Forward AP built the project on the core Urban backpack. The base design brought a proven, lightweight construction: a foldable body that packs easily into a suitcase, a spacious main compartment, zipped front and side pockets, an elastic bottle pocket, adjustable shoulder straps and a luggage strap for travel.
The base design also brought strong sustainability credentials. It is made with RCS-certified recycled nylon and a recycled polyester lining, with more than 45% certified recycled content, AWARE digital material traceability, a PVC-free build and production in a socially audited factory.
From there, the team tailored the backpack to Zühlke's brief. The dimensions were adjusted and the interior pockets redesigned to fit both a laptop and a tablet, each in its own compartment. An RFID tag was integrated inside the bag, ready to be customised with the owner's details.
To bring the brand into the product, Forward AP manufactured custom fabric dyed to Zühlke's purple colour code. Rubber logos and rubber zipper pulls completed the look, adding a tactile, durable brand mark that sits naturally on the design.
Outcome
Zühlke received a backpack that feels like a retail product, not a giveaway. Built on a proven design and customised in every detail that matters, it gives employees a practical everyday bag and gives the brand a distinctive presence wherever its people go.
