Core.
Core.
A study in everyday essentials.
2024
How little is needed to create a wallet that feels complete?
How little is needed to create a wallet that feels complete?
The project began with a personal observation.
For years, I carried a traditional wallet in my back pocket, gradually filling it with coins, receipts and cards I rarely used. Thick layers of leather and unnecessary contents transformed a simple everyday object into something bulky and inconvenient.
Instead of redesigning the conventional wallet, I first questioned what I actually needed to carry. By reducing the contents to the essentials: payment cards, identification and a small amount of cash. The design challenge became clear: creating the thinnest possible wallet without sacrificing usability or durability.
The project began with a personal observation.
For years, I carried a traditional wallet in my back pocket, gradually filling it with coins, receipts and cards I rarely used. Thick layers of leather and unnecessary contents transformed a simple everyday object into something bulky and inconvenient.
Instead of redesigning the conventional wallet, I first questioned what I actually needed to carry. By reducing the contents to the essentials: payment cards, identification and a small amount of cash, the design challenge became clear: creating the thinnest possible wallet without sacrificing usability or durability.
Final object
Core is a compact wallet that relies on the cards themselves for its structural rigidity, allowing the surrounding material to remain exceptionally thin and flexible.
Cards are accessible from both sides through dedicated thumb slots, enabling quick retrieval without opening the wallet. A subtle bevel along the top edge improves grip, allowing individual cards to be selected naturally. The payment card can even remain partially inside the wallet during contactless transactions, exposing only the chip when needed.
A central opening stores cash while keeping the overall profile remarkably slim. Every feature is integrated into a single folded piece of synthetic leather, reducing material use while protecting the contents from daily wear.
Designed to disappear comfortably into a back pocket, the wallet prioritises speed, simplicity and everyday convenience.
Core is a compact wallet that relies on the cards themselves for its structural rigidity, allowing the surrounding material to remain exceptionally thin and flexible.
Cards are accessible from both sides through dedicated thumb slots, enabling quick retrieval without opening the wallet. A subtle bevel along the top edge improves grip, allowing individual cards to be selected naturally. The payment card can even remain partially inside the wallet during contactless transactions, exposing only the chip when needed.
A central opening stores cash while keeping the overall profile remarkably slim. Every feature is integrated into a single folded piece of synthetic leather, reducing material use while protecting the contents from daily wear.
Designed to disappear comfortably into a back pocket, the wallet prioritises speed, simplicity and everyday convenience.
This project demonstrates that minimalism is not about removing features, but about questioning necessity.
By first reducing the contents instead of redesigning the object, the wallet became a direct response to everyday habits rather than existing conventions. Every cut, opening and proportion serves a clear purpose, resulting in an object that is both lighter and more intuitive to use.
This project demonstrates that minimalism is not about removing features, but about questioning necessity.
By first reducing the contents instead of redesigning the object, the wallet became a direct response to everyday habits rather than existing conventions. Every cut, opening and proportion serves a clear purpose, resulting in an object that is both lighter and more intuitive to use.
The project reflects my broader design approach: reducing complexity until only the essential remains.
Specifications
Capacity
18 cards and folded cash
Materials
High-quality synthetic leather
Features
Dual-sided card access
Integrated cash pocket
Contactless payment without removing the main card
Slim back-pocket profile
Other object investigations
