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Based in Baltimore, Sun Mun is a designer passionate about user
experience, branding, and universal design. Bringing warmth and connection to design.
The Carrier Bag
Woodworking, Accessory Design
2024
As someone familiar in the field of industrial design, I've always been drawn to wood as a medium, not just for its warmth and grain, but for its surprising malleability. Crafted from plywood, nylon strap, 3mm cord, white stopper, and white string, this crossbody bag explores the boundary between object and narrative. Inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin’s storytelling, particularly her reflections on containers, carrying, and the value of what is held, I designed this piece as a vessel for the precious. The contrasting softness of the cord and nylon strap introduces functionality and wearability while evoking a balance between utility and symbolism.
Ursula K. Le Guin’s essay “The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction,” reimagines the origins of human storytelling, not through weapons and conquest, but through the receptacle: the bag, the vessel, the container. Le Guin proposes that our first tool wasn’t a spear, but something to gather, hold, and carry.
Initial Ideation / Sketches
The Conceptualization
Sketching is where everything begins—it’s how I think, plan, and problem-solve. It’s not just about drawing what something might look like, but about laying out a roadmap: the materials I’ll need, the measurements that matter, and the steps that will shape the form. It’s the space where the abstract becomes tangible.
The Process
I started by constructing a 4.5 x 4.5 inch box from plywood, using finger joints at each corner to ensure structural integrity and a crafted look. To soften the geometry and unify the form, I rounded the corners by hand. Using a scroll saw, I cut rectangular openings to allow a beige nylon strap to weave through the box. The strap wraps around the shoulder, giving the object mobility and making it wearable. I hand-sewed the strap into white sliders with needle and string for extra security and adjustability. To close the box, I threaded 3mm beige cords through hand-drilled holes and added white stoppers, creating a drawstring mechanism that holds the lid in place.
Final Shots