Tag: Product Design

Design for Migraine Management: Product Proposal to Mitigate Social-Emotional Burdens of Migraine

Presenter: Charlie Holden − Product Design

Faculty Mentor(s): Kiersten Muenchinger

Session: (Virtual) Poster Presentation

Migraine is a common and debilitating neurological illness. Effective migraine treatment often relies on pharmaceutical interventions, though this strategy alone is insufficient in allowing migraineurs, or people who experience migraine headaches, to manage their condition because it does not address social and emotional burdens. My work aims to provide migraineurs with tools to build healthy habits and increase their understanding of individual triggers and treatments, thereby decreasing attack frequency and intensity. My motivation is to lessen the social and emotional burdens of migraine by reducing feelings of helplessness, isolation, frustration, and guilt among migraineurs. I propose that I may increase migraineurs’ actual and perceived control over their condition by providing them with tools to build positive migraine prevention habits. This solution is Pagno, a system by which to record attacks and personal metrics and synthesize these data to gain insights into appropriate treatment plans. By providing migraineurs with a system that optimizes the formation of migraine tracking as a habit, I propose that migraineurs will be empowered to adopt strategies that will improve short-term migraine incidence and long-term condition management.

Project Bamboo

Presenter: Alex Caves

Mentors: Jessica Swanson and Trygve Faste, Product Design

Creative Work Presentation: 10

Major: Product Design

What is a natural material that has a comparable tensile strength to steel, can be used as a primary structure for a multi-story building, has antimicrobial properties, and is the most sustainable material to harvest? Bamboo. Most
of us know bamboo as a privacy hedge for your garden, but bamboo can be used for so much more. In Asia, Bamboo is used for construction for buildings furniture, and can even replace rebar in concrete; it is used to make toys, cooking or eating utensils, things that need to be sanitary; it can be made into baskets; it can be processed into wool to make amazingly soft clothes; and in Japan the shoots are served as a delicacy. I have researched some companies who are now experimenting with bamboo and its fibers to create composites that has the potential to replace harmful materials like fiberglass, and plastics. My goal with Project Bamboo is to change the perception of bamboo as just a gardening plant, and to show everyone the potential of bamboo as a natural alternative to plastics. I have two types of wall mounted hangers made from bamboo so far with several material study samples, and will present these and others at the Symposium.

Overcoming The Crux: Adaptive Rock – Climbing Product Development

Presenter(s): Sawyer Alcazar-Hagen—Product Design

Faculty Mentor(s): Wilson Smith, James Tuttle

Session 4: Cultural Considerations—The Other

Developments in rock climbing equipment have made the sport accessible and safer for everyone . Increased climbing opportunity and safety standards have led more people to climb, including adaptive athletes . Research revealed that climbing belay and equipment has been designed for two- arm users . These designs pose challenges for safe belaying by one-armed users . Working with a male trans-humeral amputee, I developed devices making belaying easier and safer . Through observational climbing sessions, two problems were identified in belay style, managing dead rope (i .e ., slack rope from the belay device) and lowering his belay partner . These issues stemmed from devices designed for two-armed users . He adapted to product functionality to operate them, and this required unsafe actions (e .g ., stepping on rope). I explored design solutions through concept sketching, prototyping and user testing . I discovered two solutions: The Pull-Place-Repeat Climbing Cleat (PPR) and the Grigri Lowering Mod (GLM) . The PPR allows for single-handed belay with constant contact with the dead rope, while never having to step on the rope . The GLM allows the belayer to keep his hand below the device giving him better speed control while lowering his partner . Testing revealed the PPR rotated excessively with upward rope movement, a danger to the climber . The device should be stitched into the harness to prevent this rotation . The GLM functioned effectively, requiring a slight modification to the rotating lever arm . I discovered that climbing equipment design overlooks the needs of altered capabilities, but my design can facilitate a more inclusive climbing community .