Wallet Shades

What if sunglasses could fit in your wallet? - The question I asked at the beginning of this project.

The design focuses on creating a pair of sunglasses that can fold down to the size of a credit card, making it perfect for people who want to carry their shades everywhere without the inconvenience of a bulky case or the risk of damaging traditional frames.

Its motivation stems back to a recent overseas trip in which I purchased a pair of sunglasses, only to soon realise the hassle of carrying them around when I didn’t need them. Glasses cases offer a solution that both protects and stores them, but it also increases the volume of the glasses as an entity - plus now I also need to carry the case with me when I don’t need the case!

The design focuses on creating a pair of sunglasses that can fold down to the size of a credit card, making it perfect for people who want to carry their shades everywhere without the inconvenience of a bulky case or the risk of damaging traditional frames.

Evidently, sunglasses that can neatly fold into your wallet - an item you carry around wherever you go - would remove a lot of hassle associated with living with them. The next couple questions to be asked might be “is that even possible?”, “if yes, how much needs to be sacrificed to get there?” or “how many sacrifices will people accept to gain the added convenience?”

A squared, geometric design feels appropriate at present in delivering precise folds and rugged shapes. It also fits into the appeal of ‘ultra portability’ - a niche of complete utility, where ‘the lightest’, ‘thinnest’ ‘stiffest’ sunglasses might be marketed.

A drawback to this approach is likely ergonomics or visual appeal. At present, even the boxiest pairs of glasses in the market tend to retain some curvature so as to blend more naturally to the geometries of the human face. An undiluted box design will most likely present as overpowering and crude.