Carrytile
A portable modular furniture mover designed for second-hand furniture transportation
Pratt Institute
Student Project - Individual Work
June, 2026
Each 28 × 12.5 cm module features a foldable platform and retractable wheels that fold flush into the body, reducing its footprint for easy everyday carry. Users can combine multiple modules as needed to transport furniture of different sizes, providing a compact, flexible solution for urban moving.
Problem Finding
In New York City, unwanted yet perfectly usable furniture is often left on the curb, making curbside second-hand furniture a common sight for New Yorkers.
However, when you unexpectedly come across a great piece on the street, you rarely have a cart with you. Going home to retrieve one is inconvenient and may mean losing the furniture to someone else.
A lightweight, pocket-sized furniture mover that fits easily into a bag allows you to transport the piece immediately, turning an unexpected find into an opportunity instead of a missed chance.
Model Testing
Through physical prototyping and testing, I found that full-length mirrors and other tall furniture can be transported effectively using only two wheel modules. Larger furniture requires multiple modules, allowing the system to scale based on the dimensions and weight of different objects while maintaining flexibility and stability.
Iterations
I explored different metal construction methods to improve structural strength and load capacity. Rather than selecting one of these combinations, the final design minimizes the number of metal plates, reducing weight, simplifying manufacturing, and maintaining sufficient strength.
Structure
The final structure consists of two primary aluminum plates, two secondary support plates, and two wheels. To minimize the number of components, most rotational joints are formed by rolling the sheet metal into integrated cylindrical hinges, eliminating the need for additional axles. Only the central pivot uses a separate axle to provide the main folding mechanism.
Both the wheels and the body fold into a compact form, reducing the overall size to approximately 140 × 125 mm, making CarryTile easy to store and carry in an everyday bag.
Final Model
Two functional prototypes were developed to evaluate the folding mechanism, structural stability, and portability of CarryTile. The anti-slip surface was simulated using sandpaper, while the hinge was simplified with a separate axle for ease of fabrication. The final design will replace this with an integrated sheet-metal hinge to better represent the intended manufacturing strategy.
