PERSONAL CUP CARRIER
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Designed with college students in mind, this compact, collapsible cup carrier makes on-the-go hydration hands-free, stylish, and efficient. Inspired by the daily chaos of walking across campus with coffee in one hand and a phone, laptop, or assignment in the other, the carrier secures a single cup for easy transport and sip-access without disrupting a student’s rhythm. Unlike standard drink trays built for multiple beverages, this design centers the individual user — integrating thoughtful handle placements, temperature insulation, and a foldable base to meet the needs of both hot and cold drinks.
01 — Problem Framing & User Discovery:
We were tasked with identifying a design opportunity based on the daily lives of RPI college students, limiting our focus to this user group. Through assigned observation, we analyzed their routines and challenges, ultimately defining the problem of carrying to-go beverages while juggling books, bags, and devices across campus.
Journal entry identifying the various ways people carry their to-go drink across campus.
02 — ideation
We brainstormed wearable and hand-held solutions, ultimately selecting an intuitively constructed, collapsible form that could stabilize a drink without burning or limiting movement.
Sketches of various ways a cup could be carried hands-free.
We ultimately chose a design for its stability, ease of use, temperature protection, straw compatibility, and reusable form that allows for convenient storage.
Final pin-up sketch.
03 — Prototyping & Iteration
We used cardstock to test fit, function, and foldability across four prototypes, refining the base, tabs, and handles, while recognizing that durability would rely on future material choices.
Each iteration addressed stability issues like tipping, condensation pooling, and ease of access while drinking; we added features like open-bottom drainage and arm-fit comfort. (For more insights and processes, refer to the full design report).
05 — final prototype
The result was a single-use or reusable carrier that folds flat, supports one 16oz cup securely, and allows sipping in motion while keeping hands free.
Final Prototype in collapsed mode, drinking mode, and carrying mode.
06 — Next Steps
Future development includes adapting the form to fit various bottle shapes, testing various materials for durability, and designing a laser-cut template so the carrier could be assembled in one piece without any use of adhesives.
