About Project
This project is ongoing. Many university students find their current bags lacking in durability, functionality, or style. To address this, I am designing a versatile, sustainable bag that can support students throughout their academic journey. The bag will be durable and made from sustainable materials wherever possible to minimise environmental impact. It will provide ample space for books, laptops, and daily essentials while remaining comfortable and stylish. Designed to meet the needs and preferences of today’s students, it aims to be a practical and reliable everyday choice. After sufficient prototyping and testing, a brand will be developed based on the final design.
Project Overview
My Role:
Product Designer
Product Date:
24/02/2025 - 27/06/2025 (4 Months)
Product Scope:
Brand Identity, Packaging, Bag Design
Deliverables:
Bag Prototype, In Progress
Uni Bag - In Progress
The Design Challenge
I chose to design a sustainable bag tailored for university students. Personally, I’ve often struggled to find a bag that suits my needs, most are either unappealing, too expensive, low quality, or don’t fit my laptop. I was drawn to the challenge of creating a sustainable option, especially as more people, particularly younger generations like university students, are becoming environmentally conscious.
The Goal
The goal is to create a versatile, durable bag that comfortably holds all a student’s essentials. Many existing bags lack longevity, sustainability, or adaptability, often needing frequent replacement. This bag aims to be a sustainable, multi-functional, stylish, and comfortable everyday option.
Research
Visual Investigation
I developed two visual investigations for this project: one focused on inspiration and the other on features.
Inspiration: The bag is designed for university students to be practical, stylish, and sustainable. It features a clean, neutral colour palette, padded straps, and a breathable back for comfort. Multiple compartments accommodate laptops, books, and personal items. Made from durable, eco-friendly materials like recycled fabric and plant-based leather, it’s built to last. Functional touches like water resistance and hidden pockets enhance security, creating a modern, sustainable everyday bag for student life.
Features: The bag prioritises practicality, comfort, and sustainability. It includes smart compartments, padded laptop protection, hidden pockets, and a water bottle holder. Adjustable straps allow it to be carried as a backpack, shoulder bag, or by hand. Made from eco-friendly materials, it may include tech-friendly features like a USB port and multiple access points. Overall, it’s secure, stylish, and tailored to the needs of university students.
Further Research
I conducted extensive research into different types of bags, examining their key features, materials, and functions. This included hiking and tactical bags, valued for comfort, load capacity, durability, and organisation, as well as convertible tote-backpack hybrids that offer flexible carrying options. I also explored sustainable fabric choices, comparing natural fibres, recycled materials, and innovative alternatives such as Tencel, Piñatex, and Qmonos, along with considerations around deadstock and responsibly processed bamboo. I also research into backpacks highlighted the wide variation in access styles, organisational features, support systems, attachment points, and material trade offs. Lastly, you investigated shoulder bag styles, including totes, satchels, messenger, bucket, and crossbody bags, outlining their typical features, uses, and common materials.
User Personas
I created two user personas, including empathy and journey maps, to better understand users and their needs.
Persona 1:
Maya Chen, a second-year Graphic Design student, needs a tote bag that is visually appealing, functional, and comfortable. It should have multiple compartments for better organisation and be easy on her shoulder during long campus days.
Persona 2:
Emily Parker, a final-year Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics student, needs a backpack that is functional, minimalistic, and comfortable, reducing shoulder strain during long days. It requires a secure padded compartment for her laptop and external hard drives, as well as quick-access pockets for essentials like keys, phone, wallet, and lip balm.
Interview
My research involved interviewing independent, financially capable students around Murdoch University, as they closely represent the target audience for the university bag. The aim was to understand their bag preferences, budgets, and what they typically carry.
The interviews reveal that Students prioritise comfort, convenience, and organisation in bags, favouring backpacks for their practicality, ergonomic support, and weight distribution. Totes are chosen mainly for style, while smaller or single-strap bags are less preferred. Key features valued include durability, security, and compartments for tech or study items. Most see $20–$100 as a reasonable price, with higher-cost bags considered long-term or fashion investments. Notably, although backpacks were widely preferred, those who favoured other bag types strongly disliked backpacks.
Sketches
Convertible Bag
The design began with planning a back panel that allows switching between a backpack and a shoulder bag. Based on user feedback, I added a flap closure and multiple compartments for better organisation, creating a versatile, practical, and sustainable design for students.
Shoulder Bag
I created a shoulder bag to complete the cohesive set of three designs: a convertible bag, a shoulder bag, and a backpack. All share core features from the same research and feedback. The shoulder bag was the simplest to design, with symmetrical panels and no flap closure.
Backpack
The backpack complements the convertible and shoulder bags while adding unique features. It keeps the flap closure but includes a drawstring for easy access and an external laptop sleeve with a zipper for quick access, making it practical for students.
Concept Development
Tech Pack
Tech Pack: also known as a technical package, is a comprehensive document that provides manufacturers with all the necessary details to produce a bag according to a designer’s specifications. It’s essentially a blueprint for the bag, ensuring the final product matches the design vision.
Based on feedback from friends and family, I chose to develop the convertible shoulder bag-to-backpack design first in black. This design was considered the most unique, and black was the preferred colour for its versatility, style, and ease of pairing with different outfits.
Sewing Pattern
To make the paper prototype, I first identified all the bag’s components by sketching the parts using my earlier design as a reference. I then created a tech pack with final dimensions and measurements to draft the sewing pattern. Finally, I transferred each piece onto card stock, labeled, and cut them to create the complete set of pattern templates.
Paper Prototyping
Outer
To make the outer bag paper prototype, I cut and grouped all pieces by section, front, back, sides, and bottom, and assembled each part. I glued the side and bottom pieces together to form the bag. After testing, the straps were too short, so I removed them and replaced them with new straps based on a backpack my sister owns, then glued them in place.
Inner Bag
To make the inner bag paper prototype, I cut and grouped all pieces by section, front, back, sides, bottom, and separation compartment, and assembled them in order: bottom to compartment, sides, then front and back. I later realised the pieces were the same size as the outer bag, so the prototype didn’t fit. I revised the bottom and side pieces and repeated the process to create an updated inner bag prototype (version 2.0).
Fabric Prototype
I assembled the bag by first ironing interfacing onto fabric pieces and cutting them to size. The back panel was the most challenging due to its thickness, while the front and side panels were easier to attach. I constructed the bottom panel and inner component, noting improvements for added structure. The top closure required adjustments after skipping a paper prototype, and the backpack straps were sewn with the back panel, with the shoulder strap completed last. Overall, the assembly involved careful sequencing and problem-solving to create a functional and well-constructed bag.
Completed Fabric Prototype
The fabric prototype works well as a proof of concept, but several improvements are needed for the final version. The bag should be narrower to accommodate side bottles, lighter materials should be used to reduce weight, and the interior layout could be redesigned for better visibility. The flap closure currently lacks the logo, which will be added in the next iteration. Overall, the concept is strong, but two or three more prototypes are needed to refine the design.
In Progress
In Progress
Final Product