Design Challenge II: From Prototype to Final Product

Design Challenge II tasked students with taking a previous design from working prototype to production-ready final product, updating only materials and manufacturing rather than redesigning the function of the product. For this challenge I revisited a tote bag design from Fall of 2025, which aimed to redesign the traditional tote bag for the needs of modern users. The new design incorporates a laptop pocket and water bottle sleeve, as well as a strap for a coat, all added with the main goal of maximizing organization in the bag while keeping all of the items easily accessible.

Sketches of original design.

Original design and first prototype

The key focus of the original prototype was to test the functionality of the jacket strap on the outside of the bag. The first prototype only had the jacket strap part of the design, as almost all other components of the new design already exist and have been tested before, so we chose to only focus on testing the jacket strap to maximize the simplicity of the prototype.

For this first prototype, we decided that it would be most efficient to start with a different tote bag and modify it rather than starting from scratch in order to keep the core aspects of the current tote bag design. Using scrap canvas fabric leftover from another project to make the straps and the stiffer bottom, we then sewed the corners to make the original flat tote bag have a square bottom to increase the usable space within the bag. We also designed and 3D printed two simple g-hooks, which were positioned at the base of either strap in our prototype.

The original design had many features that never made it to the prototype, including a laptop pocket and water bottle sleeve. These weren’t heavy focuses of the first version as there are already bags on the market with these features, so we chose not to prioritize them.

First prototype

New materials

For the new finalized prototype, the bag would be made entirely from scratch using canvas fabric for the base and straps, velcro for the laptop sleeve, elastic straps for the water bottle sleeve, and side-release clips for the jacket strap mechanism. While most of these materials are functionally the same as in the original prototype, just slightly more durable and visually appealing. The switch from g-hooks to side-release clips for the jacket strap feature makes it easier to utilize, and also possible to use one-handed which opens the user group to differently-abled people as well.

Measuring and cutting fabric for final prototype.

Manufacturing

The original prototype was mainly intended to prove that the jacket strap on the outside of the bag would be functional, so aesthetics were a low priority. The new prototype was carefully measured and ironed throughout the process, with more attention paid to the order in which parts were sewn in order to make the least visible seams on the outside of the bag for a cleaner looking final product.

Final prototype.

Parker Harding

Animal Tracks Stamp

Tote Bag Redesign