PALM
Inclusive Hair Straightener
Consumer Hardware
Health & Assistive Design
Product Design
User-Centered
Electronics
Beauty
Co-Designers
Lori Cyr
Occupational Therapy Coordinator/Clinical Resource Therapist
Mary Pack Arthritis Program and OASIS Vancouver
Denise Kendrik
Occupational Therapist
MS Clinic UBC
Problem Space
Self-expression allows one to distinguish themselves from others and validate their own ideas. Many individuals with different musculoskeletal disorders, like Arthritis and Muscular dystrophy, lose the ability to style their hair.
While some don't see physical appearance as a necessity, these barriers can become detrimental to others.
Approach
Palm was created through an extensive iterative process of
research and prototyping. It emerged through co-designing with occupational therapists who helped evaluate
what the key pain points were in hair styling. With all of that in mind, I began prototyping with foam, wood, and computer aided design and 3D printing.
Each step in the prototyping phase was met with user testing and deliberation. All to insure the most comfortable and easy user experience.
Outcome
Palm is an inclusive design hair styling tool that empowers
individuals, who have limited hand mobility, with the capability
to style their own hair.
Pain Points:
The struggles that individuals face when it come to hair styling can be attributed to three main pain points
Restricted joint flexion and extension
Weak grip strength
Muscle spasticity
Scroll down to see the innovative features that Palm brings to hair styling!
