for me, before looking thing in how beautiful it can be, it also comes back to the basic function on how well it can help me to 'do it's job'

because it makes no sense to me a file holder that only looks nice but can't holds papers or document properly while i pay like rm50 for it, right?

what's designer item and why it's expensive? I've been so stereotype last time and doesn't buy any item from designer and hesitant keep on bashing they're like robbing your money or something. Look at IKEA's item for example, hey, i've started to love everything in there, functionality with style. There's chinese saying 'yat fan chin yat fan for' (you get for what you pay)

Well, i'd think for product, for your case, file holder in this case,
look in..
1. how you can improve on how flexible, useful, portable it can be
2. then after improve its practicality, and solve the problem people usually have, then you only look in to design and adding eye candy to it.

my 2cent again. enjoy