Bespoke Design:
The Wallet Project
Bespoke Design & Fabrication for 21st Century Industry
Fall 2023
70h-80h work time
Problem
Bespoke design far out performs mass production on all fronts, but especially in terms of user experience & product quality. Most things are mass-produced - which is good for the sake of supporting and encouraging technological development, population growth, and so on.
However, not all objects are maximized for individual use; wallets and other such objects are personal and, by nature, require bespoke design and fabrication. I'm in search of a possibility for bespoke design within mass production, ideally, a process that is in line with ethics and sustainability.
Conceptual Development
Tester Wallets & User Research
User 1: Janhvi
Janhvi's Original Wallet
Tester Wallet I:
User 11: Shozab
Shozab's Original Wallet
Tester Wallet II:
Design, Prototyping, & Fabrication
User 1: Janhvi
Janhvi's Wallet Specs
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Cards: 4 slots, similar to tester wallet
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Cash: Yes, 1 fold max
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Changepurse: yes! Good for carrying little items aside from change (i.e. jewelry)
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Scale: Small enough to fit in womens' tiny pockets!
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Transformable: Can be worn as an evening clutch
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Clear ID Pocket?
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Color: Turquoise/Teal (do I want to dye leather?), mixed metal hardware
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** Wallet must be fully closed/closeable ** : Full all-around zip
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Accessories:
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Charms - color & metal (weathered, not shiny!)
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Pattern Embroidery / Painting: Incorporate motifs from traditional dye and embroidery styles / techniques from Janhvi's state in India (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
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General Aesthetic / Style: Ecclectic & Maximalist
Final Wallet Design
Embroidery Design
User 11: Shozab
Shozab's Wallet Specs
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Cards: 9 cards - 4 to 5 card slots
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Cash: Yes, 1 fold max, minimal overall profile
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RFID-friendly element: Acrylic side for ID & other cards that require scanning (attached with rivets)
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Otherwise, fabric should block tap ability / data theft
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Closure: Magnetic, seamless
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Colors: White, grey, medium brown, green accents, brass hardware
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Aesthetic / Design Style: Modern, Minimal, Industrial
Final Wallet Design
Final Prototypes
User 1: Janhvi
User 11: Shozab
Next Steps
Janhvi's Wallet:
- Source appropriate zippers
- Test & compare decorative patterns using leather dye and embroidery thread
- D rings for strap option
Shozab's Wallet:
- Acrylic box prototypes & testing
- Heating and bending acrylic
- Effectiveness for RFID/contactless card reading
- Attachment method to wallet body
- Find RFID-blocking fabric for testing
Both Wallets:
- New prototype using better quality, thicker leather to explore:
- thickness of multiple layers sewn together
- bends' and curves' stability
- Pattern adjustment to better fit dollar bills
- Sustainability assessment / End-of-life plan
Other Next Steps:
- Create a wallet system (as outlined in image >) to create bespoke wallet designs within the paradigm of mass production
