Project Description

KULA is a highly functional and aesthetically beautiful concept proposal for an innovative crutch design that improves the user’s quality of life. Innovation will be focused on developing a multi-functional crutch, which prioritises practicality and flexibility without diminishing the aesthetic qualities of the design. Retention of the users’ dignity is the primary goal for the aesthetic elements, emphasising an understated and non-clinical design.
With the crutches currently on the market, it is common for people to suffer pain, nerve damage (commonly called crutch paralysis), permanent muscle and tissue damage, a loss of self-esteem, a sense of shame, and a heightened level of anxiety. KULA has been designed to correct these faults and limitations. It demonstrates how innovation can eliminate and reduce pain points and anxiety, to improve the user’s physical and mental experience. KULA is multi-functional, adjustable, comfortable and of a modern design aesthetic. Adjustability alleviates pain throughout the day and equips the crutch for specific situations, such as scaling stairs, or sitting down. KULA radically changes the walking aid market, ensuring maximum comfort and reduced pressure on fragile joints over time. Alleviating injury due to crutch use will enable a far more positive user experience and ensure recovery when possible from the user’s initial injury. Meanwhile, permanent crutch users will experience a far more comfortable, safe, and aesthetically beautiful product day in and day out, dramatically improving their health and quality of life.

Bio

Toby Barnhill is a third year Product Design student at the University of Technology, Sydney.

Following a passion in design and creative technologies, Toby strives to engage in a career benefiting the community and ensuring healthier and happier lifestyles, while maintaining a key focus on sustainability and longevity. Toby has always taken a keen interest in manufacturing technologies, with a strong and continuously developing skillset in additive and subtractive manufacturing processes, as well as an in-depth understanding of CAD software and design development. 

He is very excited to pursue a career ensuring a better world for our future generations and ensuring the highest quality of life for as many people as humanly possible in whichever way he can.

previous project / next project

Copyright UTS Product Design 2020