Rise is a mobility project focused on improving the life of those who rely on mobility devices to navigate life. 350,000 Australians rely on mobility aids permanently and these devices have not evolved as we have. By rethinking each element of a crutch, Rise hopes to provide an experience that minimises the shortcomings of conventional crutches so those who rely on these tools can navigate life with minimal restrictions.
The focus:
The Focus of the rise project was to create a mobility tool that improved the user experience compared to conventional designs. By improving each element of the tool the user needs, rise hopes to provide a better recovery experience.
Through research and design ethnography, the crutch was chosen and its expanded feature set revolved around the needs of those who used them. The two primary approaches taken were to improve the comfort of the device as well as making quality of life adjustments. That way, the overall experience of using crutches will be improved.
Feature set:
The primary quality of life adjustments come from the easily repairable design, with the primary focus being the folding element. To verify that a crutch could successfully integrate a folding element, a large amount of work went into exploring the hinge design. The primary focus was to make it easily foldable while ensuring that the mechanism was sturdy and not prone to accidently deploying. The modular design was also vital as these are tools that are typically continuously relied on or passed down to a high number of individuals to aid in their recovery. Making a successful crutch meant having the capacity to last a lifetime or to see many through to recovery.
The improved comfort aspects focused on reducing the physical strain associated with using the device. The padded arm is the primary focus as it aims to provide relief from the sores typically generated by the force and friction associated with general use. The grip and gelled pad are both replaceable to ensure the user is always able to use Rise comfortably. The last key feature is the molding feat. With high pressure, the foot flexes to provide some force release. This mechanism was proven to reduce wrist strain. Rises solution is somewhat unique as it also conforms to surfaces for extra grip.
The Developmental Process:
Rise Development Snapshot - Jules Kabore (1).pdf