A new look at the wallet - a challenge for industrial design students - 2013

28 June 2013

Industrial design students at QUT put their creativity and design skills to the test to redesign that hip pocket stalwart - the wallet - to mark World Industrial Design Day.

Around 80 students then set to and made their designs out of materials such as cardboard and corflute.

Rethinking the wallet was chosen for the challenge because there are so many different types of users of a wallet to cater for, says QUT industrial design lecturer Dr Shayne Beaver.

"There are even wallets for guitarists that have a special place to keep their pick," Dr Beaver said.

"We have asked students to design something we haven't seen before using user-research and a thorough design process to create something that is more useful, more attractive and more engaging, so ensure that the user loves using the product."

For photos of the students and their designs check out our Facebook album.

About 150 professional designers, students, and industrial design educators gathered for the day which included talks from professional designers, Patrick Shirley, Daniel Thomas, Brett Fuerst, Mark Lamb, Philip Whiting and Tom Allen.

QUT Industrial Design Professor Vesna Popovic said the main aim of the day was to promote recognition of the industrial design profession and its contribution to improving our quality of life.

"It also aims to facilitate collaboration on social, cultural, educational and professional levels," Professor Popovic, who is a member of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design which initiated the worldwide day.

Media contact: Niki Widdowson, QUT media officer, 07 3138 2999 or n.widdowson@qut.edu.au