Wallet Design Challenge

Assignment

1. DESIGN BRIEF: Spend 30 minutes synthesizing your interview notes into a typed "Design Brief" format, including the sections below. Post the design brief to your Digital Course Portfolio... (SEE DESIGN BRIEF SECTIONS BELOW) If you want more insight into the components and features of a good design brief, you can watch this video (Links to an external site.).

2. WALLET PROTOTYPE & VLOG: Spend 1-1.5 hours designing and prototyping an innovative wallet for your partner, based upon the design brief you have written. Use any materials at your disposal (repurpose, recycled, do not buy anything). You do not have to document any of your design work...just focus on building the prototype. When you are finished, post a ~1 min Vlog to your Digital Course Portfolio. Your vlog should convey the information in your design brief (summarizing in your own words), and then demonstrate your wallet prototype and how the features/functions you created measure up to the requirements in your design brief.

Design Brief

Background:

Wallets have been in use since the 1600s, when paper money first came into use. Primarily made of leather, this simple technology has stood the test of time as a safe and handy way to carry cash and other necessities. In the 1950s, the modern bi-fold wallet with pockets inside sky-rocketed to popularity, as the first credit cards came on the scene. As it turns out, my partner, John, prefers this classic style with a bill clip on the outside for easy access to paper cash. Leather is durable and lasts a long time, it is easy to find what you need in a bi-fold, and the whole thing travels well in the back pocket of his jeans. However, there are drawbacks. Over time, the leather stretches causing the internal pockets to become misshapen and the credit cards and ID to fall out. Additionally, when you pull out one bill from the clip too often many bills fall out. Not only is this messy, but it also increases the chance of losing valuables.

Requirements:

The wallet must fit in a standard men's pocket which is sized at 9.1 inches down and 6.4 inches across.
The wallet must be able to comfortably carry both cash and multiple cards, such as credit cards, store discount cards, and ID.
The wallet must keep cards safely in the wallet.
The wallet must reduce the chance that more than one bill at a time will be released from the outside clip.

Constraints:

Allow 1-1.5 hours for the development of an idea and working prototype.
Materials must be repurposed or recycled, not bought.

Wallet Prototype

My first thought for the wallet was to change the material to something else that would not stretch. I looked into synthetic fibers (polyester, vinyl, etc.), canvas, oilcloth, and even metal, but after a bit of market research, it looks like leather wallets are still the most popular because they are fairly inexpensive, durable, easy to construct, and attractive. I decided not to mess with a good thing. So for my prototype, I used craft foam as a mimic for leather. Of the materials I had on hand, I felt to was the best replacement.

Next, I turned to design. I did some research on what sizes wallets are and how they're constructed. My prototype is a pretty standard 4.5"x3.5" bifold wallet, similar to what my partner already uses. I wanted to address the concerns of cards slipping out by adding some kind of closure. I played with elastic, which made the wallet hard to open. I considered magnets, but since I wasn't sure if my partner commonly used cards with a magnetic strip, I stayed away from that. While researching how one makes a wallet out of leather on MakeSupply, I came across a flap design that I thought would be perfect. So I added flap that folded around the wallet and tucked into the other side. This kept the design slim while also keeping it closed.

But once I did that I realized that it wouldn't help cards from sliding out of the top of the wallet, so I reoriented the interior pockets. Rather than being arranged vertically with the top towards the top of the wallet, the pockets are rotated 90 degrees, so that cards slide out the sides. So even if the material stretches and they try to slide out, the flap will stop the movement. I also added the standard billfold pocket for receipts, money, and other items. To ensure easy access to cash (or to add a plastic photo holder or additional cardholders) I added a thin loop of elastic inside the wallet at the center.

On the outside, I added a wide strip of elastic so that important cards or money could be added for easy access to items that get used the most. If possible I would use a medical elastic for this, rather than craft or fashion elastics, because they don't tend to stretch as much over time, keeping the tension on the outside of the wallet.

To make the wallet, I measured and cut paper pieces first, taking time to round the corners and make sure everything would fit. I then transferred the designs to the craft foam and used a craft blade to cut out the pieces and scissors to clean up edges as needed. For the sake of time, I glued the pieces together with hot glue, rather than hand stitching the pieces into place. Obviously, the stitching would make the wallet more durable.

On a side note, I really enjoyed learning about leatherworking at MakeSupply. I've done some leather stamping and precut projects before, but I think I'd now like to continue iterating with this design to try to make it out of leather. UPDATE: Showed my husband this project and he has asked me to design a wallet for him for his upcoming birthday. I used the same design thinking we practiced in class to interview him and draft a quick brief. Now to start prototyping!

A tuck-in flag keeps the wallet closed and the items inside secure.

Wide elastic around the exterior provides quick access to cash and other items.

The wallet opens to a fairly traditional bi-fold with several pockets for cards.

The pockets are oriented horizontally rather than vertically, so that if cards slide, they'll be stopped by the flap.

The thin loop of elastic provides a spot for additional storage.

The large pocket inside can be used for money, receipts, and others items as needed.

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