Designed with purpose, made for the Otis community.

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This tote bag project began with a clear goal: to create upcycled merchandise that connects student-created work with the Otis community while emphasizing sustainability. Inspired by the negative space in the Otis logo, the design features a three-pocket layout that balances style and everyday functionality.

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Each bag is crafted from recycled campus pole banners and includes illustrations by Otis alum Genesis Otero (‘24 BFA Animation). Throughout the process, we explored sustainable production methods and collaborated closely with Otis stakeholders to refine both design and manufacturing goals. Working with thick banner material challenged us to develop efficient, hands-on solutions that brought the design to life.

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To support the launch, we produced a promotional video and designed a window vinyl display for the campus store. These efforts contributed to selling 60 bags within the first month.

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More than just a product, this tote reflects our collaboration, problem-solving, and strong connection to the Otis community.