Uplift

Uplift

The project prompt was to design a product that would help aging adults age in place. Generative research found that 95% of adults over the age of 65 live independently, in the same home, and are generally using the same tools. However, adults 65 years and older will experience physical impairments such as a 30% decrease in strength, and stamina, which make essential activities more challenging.

As older adults age in place, their main goal is to maintain independence. A common and key indicator of maintaining that status of independence is the ability to provide food and being able to grocery shop.

Project Context

University Senior Project

User: Aging adult (60+)

Exploration

I initially explored ways to get the cart onto a car that included being hitched on or sliding but realized it would take too much effort for someone to potentially drag up. I realized the best approach would be to get the cart to pivot into the car, which would require minimum effort.

After refining through smaller scale and life scale models, I felt confident in the mechanism and moved on to refine the design of the cart.