During the fourth year of Industrial Design studies at Carleton University, it is required for the students to collaborate with external clients and sponsors to produce a thesis project. This allows the students to experience first hand the process of working with clients, build strong networks, and the underlying value of Industrial Design. This year we have the opportunity to work with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to help develop and design forest fire fighting equipment. Fortunately we were provided the chance to attend Equip-Ex 2007 which was an equipment exhibition held at the Executive Airport Gatineau-Ottawa (EGO) on October 3 – 4. This opportunity provided the first chance to meet with personnel from MNR in Ottawa. A week later we were invited out by the MNR to the Thunder Bay Headquarters for an official meeting on October 10 – 11, 2007. We were taught the structure of MNR, took tours of the warehouse and were briefed on the equipment and opportunities for design innovation. Visiting their headquarters gave us a deeper understanding of the structure, process, and equipment of MNR and gave us insight to aid us in identifying our design direction. In this image, a thesis group colleague is wearing the newly-designed hose pack. The issues of weight distribution were being explained by Dave Cowan, right, and Genn Campbell, left.