How a Hat Wallet Brought Me Home
The Challenge: Wallet Redesign
The idea for the hat wallet was born during a wallet redesign exercise at the Stanford Design Thinking Bootcamp 2017 where we completed a series of exercises leading us through the Design Thinking Process.
Meet Chad!
Needs Inventory - What is the user trying to do? How do they want to feel?
What Chad NEeds
Chad needs to carry and access his important things in a way that is comfortable and effortless.
The Brainstorm
I shared my sketches for possible solutions, and Chad was most enthusiastic about option D, a hat wallet.
Rapid Prototype
We had only 8 minutes to make a prototype from basic office and craft supplies.
Chad tries the hat wallet and gives me his feedback.
Chad tried on the wallet. We assessed fit and sleeve placement for max security and easiest access. He loved the concept and said it was something he would definitely use.
This design thinking experience was pivotal for me. I experienced design in a completely new way.
I felt like I was home.
Picking up Where I’d Left Off
I had a chance to move past the rapid prototype stage and iterate on the idea during an Industrial Design class at Parsons where I also considered aesthetic elements. I started where I left off with another quick prototype and user feedback. People who tried on the rapid prototype were most concerned with fit, security, and ease of retrieval/storage.
Prototype II
I found a pattern and hat making tutorial to use to create the 2nd prototype. I did not have a sewing machine so construction consisted mostly of hand-stitching and staples.
Wallet Variations
I was able to get feedback about the different wallet variations from my classmates and NYC commuters. This led to a new idea for a double sided wallet which I built into the next prototype.
Aesthetics
The constraints for the course project called for a tessellated headpiece, so I also considered aesthetic elements.
Prototype III
Prototype IV
Final Thoughts
Using the Design Thinking process was game-changing for me. It became clear during this project that I thrive on user-centered design decisions. Empathy and user interviews have continued to be my entry points in subsequent projects. Working in 3D was also very satisfying - I incorporated laser cutting and specialty sewing. I was able to identify a need, ideate a solution, and iterate to take my vision from a paper prototype to a real product.
