Have you ever tried walking or biking across campus while carrying your backpack, water bottle, headphones, gym clothes, and a cup of coffee? Well, you could use a DooHooky!
As part of our BMGT/ENED290H: Introduction to Design and Quality QUEST course last semester, my team – Patrick Hong, Roni Magidson, Gil Vadel, and I, all in Cohort 44 – teamed up to create what would become the DooHooky, a simple, compact product designed to make it easier to carry items when they’re not in use.
The DooHooky initially focused on finding a secure place to put over-ear headphones but expanded as the team collected data from surveys, interviews, and focus groups. It’s strong enough to hold headphones, water bottles, and other items at once. Made of faux leather, it comes in four styles: black, brown, and both colors with Maryland flag print.
Vadel mentioned that the use of each prototype made him realize how effective the DooHooky was in everyday life. “I would carry my headphones, water bottle, and even grocery bags on my DooHooky prototype, seeing the potential it could have.”
Shortly after the final presentation in May 2025, our team decided to actually sell the product and sent out a preorder form where DooHookys were sold 50% off, and customers received their product during the fall semester.
Starting a business while beginning a new semester hasn’t been easy. Hong shared, “The biggest challenge was coordinating times and action items to be completed by each team member since we each have many other commitments.” This experience taught us that strong time management and communication are essential to delivering a great customer experience.
The DooHooky’s relevance grew when the University of Maryland adopted a new interim policy requiring all riders of bikes, scooters, skateboards, unicycles, and other micromobility vehicles to wear helmets on University property. Students who used to wear headphones while riding can now hook them securely to their bags. This ensures they are complying with the University policy and keeping their items safe.
Hong said, “If you’re passionate about an idea, don’t let anyone stop you from pursuing it.” I’ve found that it doesn’t matter how important others think the idea is. What matters is your passion and the people it can help.
While our team sells mainly to students on campus, we also offer shipping for an additional charge. To get your own DooHooky, visit our Instagram @doohooky and fill out the Google Form in our bio.
From an idea in the BMGT/ENED290H: Introduction to Design and Quality course to a real product, the DooHooky shows how creativity, teamwork, and persistence can turn a classroom project into something worth selling.
