WLKR - Mobility Device Project

WLKR

Current walker designs ignore the social implications of neglected aesthetics. The cold, sterilized alloys of existing walkers appear out of place anywhere other than medical centers, even though millions of their users lead active lifestyles in everyday environments.

Can a walker be designed to support its user functionally,

aesthetically

and

socially?

P O P U L AT ION US ING MOB ILIT Y D E VICE S

40

A NY

30 CAN ES 20 WA LKERS 10 ROLL ATORS

%

CRU TCHES AGE

18+

60

70

80

90

As a ge s inc re a s e , t he percentage of users needing a mobility devic e goe s up. Alt hough the majority of users are over 70, t he re is s t ill a c ons id erable population of younger, active users

* St a t is t ic s from “Mobility Repor t” by Disabled World ™

PE R C ENTAG E O F U S E

BY ACT IVE ADU LTS 8%

MOB ILIT Y D E VICE M ARK E T QUANT IT Y

67%

9%

1

% 25

C R U TC H E S C A NE S

81%

0%

Walkers make up 25% of the devices used by active adults, yet only 9% of all active mobili ty device products. T his leaves a large opening in the market for a new w alker.

WA L K E R S *Sta tistics f rom “M obility Repor t” by Disa bled Wor ld™ ** M obility products a s ca ta logued by 1800wheelchair

The first sign ifica n t fea t ure to a ppea r T here

are

many

inne xp e ns ive

on a w a lker is t he sea t . There a re ver y

op t ion s f or walke r s. Th i s p or tion

few

of t he marke t is h igh ly satur ate d .

ava ilible rega rdless of t he price ra nge.

$35

$40

$45

$50

$6 0

$7 5

E xi sting walke r d es ign s a ll look t he same . The mate r ials a re a lumin um, plastic and r ubbe r, a nd t here is lit t le to no consid e r ation for t he v isua l or social asp e cts of the design .

ot her

$9 5

fea t ures

$1 0 5

or

funct ion s

$1 2 0

$175

While w a lkers ser ve a valuable funct ion , t he exist ing marke t and design s do not reflect it .

Conclusion There is ample room on the market for a high-end walker that supports its user functionally,

aesthetically

and

socially

L IO ISHIDA Age 27 Injured in car accident Doesn’t want a walker, but needs one.

“ H onestly, I just don’t feel good using a w alker. I may be handicapped but I still care wh at I look l ike. Show me something cool that w orks w ell and I w ill rock it.”

Lio lives in a two-bedroom apartment in Seattle, and works as an aeronautical engineer.

His hobbies include concerts, bar crawls, and food-trucks with his friends and co-workers.

Due to his injury, these social events are difficult for him to attend without getting fatigued.

Inspiration Furniture for

the

was

the

walker’s

the

function

and

it

can

of look

primary

design.

Furniture

supporting great

inspiration

while

its

does user,

doing

it.

PURE

WARM

FRIENDLY

LIGHT

Early Concepts The

first

sketches

experimented

with

forms and stance. These designs assisted the decision process by eliminating bulky and on

unweildly forms

that

shapes, emphasised

and

focusing

support

and

lightness, like triangles and a narrow frame.

Early Mockups The first scale mockups experimented with function. Seats, bars, and canes built into the body were all considered.. These designs assisted the decision process by giving an average

idea

of

the

dimensions

needed.

Mockups The second round of mockups were done alongside the sketches. Model building helped me understand what was possible and what was not Unfortunately, many good looking drawings were just not functional in real life.

To find a design that that looked good and model

functioned making,

well

meant

sketching

and

a

lot

of

patience.

Concepts The second round of sketches refined the design direction towards it’s final iteration.

Part of the process meant considering not only the aesthetics, but the functions as well.

Final Concept Although much of the design inspiration came from Japanese and Scandinavian furniture, the idea to have its resting form actually be a piece of furniture did not occur until the end.

Position I

Position II

ORTHOGRAPHICS

STORYBOARD

Process Bending the veneers took the majority of the work. If I were to do it again I would spread glue on the veneers,

place them on the

mold form, then place that inside a vacuum sealed bag.

This would ensure an even

pressure around the bent wood as it dries.

Gear Boxes One of the greatest design challenges was how to make the walker open and close in a simple, intuitive way that still provided the support necessary without adding complex buttons or mechanics to the exterior. This was solved by placing a specific set of gears inside a wood housing.

By opening the handles 90 degrees, a worm gear rotates open

five in

other

opposite

gears,

allowing

directions

exactly

the 15

legs

to

degrees.

CLOSED

OPEN

In Use In public the “bar� would be a convenient resting place

to

lean

on

when

the

user

is

physically

fatigued, leaving the users hands free and providing a surface for them to rest things on, like drinks.

Most importantly perhaps is that the height would keep the user engaged in conversation, whereas a seat would remove the user from eye discussions.

Bristle tips on the bottom would allow it to glide over

surfaces

easily,

and

the

rubber

inside

the

bristles would be a brake when pressure is applied.

UPRIGHT

FRONT

BACK

FRONT

BACK

SIDE

TOP

BRISTLE TIP

WLKR

WLKR

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