CUBBY
Cubby
A retractable leather keyholder in the shape of a bear. Designed for low-cost manufacturing and short-run production.
Role
Solo Designer
Tools Used
Adobe Illustrator, Laser Cutter
Timeline
Sept - Dec 2025
Ever find yourself standing outside your apartment door, digging through your bag to find your keys?
Project Outline
The purpose of this project was to create a marketable product that can be manufactured at a low-cost tooling method and be put into short-run production. From developing a unique idea to making and selling 10 of that product, the problems faced by inventors, startups, and companies trying to market their inventions are experienced firsthand.
Design Criteria
Goal: Create a cute but functional bag/keychain accessory
Target Audience: The target buyer of the product is college students living in dorms or apartments
Cost: Keep material and labor costs under $10 per unit
DFM: Optimize the design for simplified manufacturing
Result
Sold 10 units of Cubby for $20 at a 63.6% profit margin
What Problems Are Being Solved?
Keychains are an important but often disregarded part of daily life. Enhancing the convenience of this everyday object can reduce friction in routine interactions, improving accessibility, organization, and ease of use.
Rummaging for
lost keys
Jangling noises
when moving
Desire for
personalization
Ideations
I began by ideating various forms of potential keyholder designs that would resolve the key issues identified.
Initial Prototype
The initial prototype developed upon the form of a bear. The bear provided a fuller shape to hold and carry the keys compared to the other forms explored. The intent of the design is for the keys to be retractable and accessible.
Manufacturing
Laser Cutting
I laser cut the form of the 10 bears and engraved the logo Cubby into the tail piece. By laser cutting the overall shape and the stitching holes, the assembly process was significantly shortened.
Edge Finishing
Using Tokonole, I burnished the edges of the leather to create a clean, smooth finish. I then coated the edges with beeswax and used a lighter to seal it in.
Adding Hardware
Using a hammer and fixing tools, I attached the leather strap and keyring with a rivet for added security.
Sewing
I used a saddle stitch to bind the leather pieces together for additional security.
Bill of Materials
The initial prototype developed upon the form of a bear. The bear provided a fuller shape to hold and carry the keys compared to the other forms explored.
Retail Price: $20.00
Unit Cost: $8.28
Profit: $12.72
Profit Margin: 63.6%
Packaging
I designed the packaging to have a peep hole for the product to show through. Since the keyholder was made with leather and hand-stitching, I wanted the material, quality, and visual of the product to be on display.
Folding
Recycled brown paper was laser-cut to create the packaging for Cubby. The red lines indicate the folds and the black lines indicate the cuts.
Final Design
In-Use
Cubby is designed with a retractable mechanism that allows for easy access and use without needing to dig in your bag to find your keys or unhook your carabiner from your belt. Since it functions as a bag charm, you can simply pull on the key and it will extend to reach the door.
Additional Images
Make 10 MarketPlace
The Make 10 Marketplace was held in the West Architecture Building at Georgia Institute of Technology during Launchpad, the College of Design's end-of-semester student exhibit. Students in this course were able to set up a booth and sell their manufactured product during this time.
Poster
I created a poster with the selling price of the product for my marketplace booth. The price of each Cubby was set at $20.
Make 10 Innovation
Design Awards
The Orange Sparkle Ball | Make 10 Award, sponsored by the Atlanta-based design firm Orange Sparkle Ball, honors entrepreneurship and innovation among students participating in the Make 10 course.
Our project was judged following four categories: Market Opportunity, Price/Value, Inventiveness/Desirability, and Manufacturability. I am grateful to have been selected as the 1st place winner for the Orange Sparkle Ball Award!