Introducing: Db Journey

Whether you're heading into the wild or navigating the urban jungle, the right gear makes all the difference. We sat down with designer Vincent Laine to talk about Db Journey – the Scandinavian design brand behind award-winning travel companions that combine clean Nordic aesthetics with practical precision.

SINCE 2009, Scandinavian brand Db Journey has been on a mission to make traveling smoother – and undeniably more stylish!

Founded by freeskiing legend Jon Olsson and engineer Truls Brataas, the brand blends practical design, technical precision, and clean Nordic aesthetics into travel gear loved by both outdoor explorers and urban adventurers. From backpacks and weekend duffels to hard-case suitcases, Db Journey’s award-winning collection is made for getaways of all kinds.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Vincent Laine, who is the creative mind behind Db Journey’s Ramverk luggage collection. Designed with longer travels in mind, Ramverk suitcases combine the brand’s signature durability with minimalist elegance and clever functionality.

Curious to learn more? Get to know Vincent and the story behind the collection!

Hi, Vincent! Nice to meet you! What have you designed for Db Journey so far?
“I joined Db Journey in 2019 as the category designer for hard case luggage. My primary task was to create and design the category, but as with many roles, they are intertwined with other projects across the brand.”

What does a typical design process look like for you?
“Over the years, I have found out that the process usually starts with frustration. One that becomes personal enough for me to go “I have to change this” instead of just complaining about the status quo. Therefore, my inspiration is not just fluffy thoughts or random instances of borrowing a rationale from another domain, which is completely fine, though, but my inspiration is usually emotion-driven purpose.

My inspiration is not just fluffy thoughts but usually emotion-driven purpose.”

Let me explain! Before designing luggage, I travelled to see the world and photograph places, what I came to notice was that most luggage out there that I bought made me feel insecure about my gear and whether it would keep itself together. In that moment, I decided that I wanted to design luggage that made you feel confident, so that no matter what happens along the way, your luggage will not be your weakest link.

Then, of course, this needs to be translated into material and form. Which, for sure, requires interpretation – but that's what design is. It’s a language.”

How did you end up becoming a designer?
“I grew up among creative people from different fields, carpentry, painting, tailoring, jewelry design. So in my family, the question was more, “What is your field?”.

As a young kid, I was searching, trying things out to see what felt right. From drums and music to sculpture, graphic design, and tattoos. Ultimately to industrial design, which came naturally to me. Form and material had always spoken to me, but I had not realised how impactful that had been growing up until I started playing around with the idea that maybe I can speak the language of form. I suppose I am still on the journey of testing that hypothesis.”

In addition to luggage, you’ve also designed cameras. How does designing a camera differ from designing a suitcase?
“There are aspects of two product categories that are vastly different, and then there were aspects that I brought from cameras to luggage, which informed something unique. But to start with, the proportion and size are dramatically different. This makes it hugely different in the process of designing, for instance, when it comes to prototyping. Cameras you can easily 3D print, whereas luggage, you can make cardboard mock-ups at best.

Another thing is tolerances and precision. Coming from Leica, the parts were crafted with high precision with very small tolerances, and this is not directly applicable to luggage, but I brought the attention to detail to Db and our luggage by having numerous conversations with our suppliers and finding common ground on how to improve these things. Because they do matter, and they do express robustness – and therefore confidence.

Something else that I brought from Leica was the use of metal and, more specifically, silver and black as the main colorways. Ramverk Pro is silver and black today because that is generally the color palette for cameras.

It is also less known but very important to share that the aluminium middle frame was first designed and developed for the Front Access Carry-on to enable photographers to bring more in a bigger volume. The aluminium frame holds together the two shells in a way that no other brand has ever created luggage for camera gear that both protects, rolls seamlessly on four wheels, and has a wide front opening giving easy access to all the gear inside.”

What does it feel like to see your designs out in the world, being used?
“Your first product is always special to see in someone using a product you have designed, especially in the beginning. You observe whether your assumptions and thoughts you had during the design process were correct. Both about the product and the user.

Over time, at least for me, the products become more of a catalogue, triggering memories. Perhaps you remember a certain conversation from the development process, or what milestones you reached with the team, how you celebrated, how the work shaped both the product and, ultimately, a part of yourself.”

What would you love to create next?
“I am getting more and more keen to flirt with furniture.”

And one more question: Your last name may sound unique to many, but to us Finns, it’s very familiar! What is your connection to Finland?
“I am Finnish, and I moved to Sweden at the age of 9. My grandfather’s name was Karl Laine. He was a jewelry designer based in Naantali.”

See also:

• All products by Db Journey at Finnish Design Shop >

Text: Susa Pääkkönen Images: Db Journey

Published on 1 Jul, 2025