Blue Heart Hero
Industry Partner
A mission-driven design nonprofit based in Brooklyn, New York - helping create and provide solutions for people who struggle with everyday tasks. They focus on open-source 3D printable assistive devices for those with limb differences and disabilities. For example, a jig for a nail clipper that can be 3D printed on any desktop 3D printer and costs less than a cup of coffee to 3D print.
Blue Heart Hero gave us a design challenge: create a 3D printable object that aids someone during an everyday interaction.
Over four days, I worked with four fellow industrial design students to develop and print our prototype. It was such a fun project that allowed me to build skills in 3D printing, ergonomics in design, and working under a short time deadline.
Over four days, I worked with four fellow industrial design students to develop and print our prototype. It was such a fun project that allowed me to build skills in 3D printing, ergonomics in design, and working under a short time deadline.
Book Butler
The "Hands-Free" Book Stand
A book holder for people with arthritis, hand tremors, weak hands/arms, or anyone who doesn't want to manually hold a book open while they read.
This assistive device, made up of three 3D printed parts, clips onto the bottom of a book's pages to gently hold them open while reading. Features such as clamp size, arm length, book thickness allowance, and other ergonomic adjustments can be customized. Pages can still be turned by tucking under the clips, and the device’s clips can also act as bookmarks.
Ideation Sketching
Prototyping & Refinements
The clip being used as a bookmark!
Final Design
Features
- 3D printable from any standard sized 3D printer
- Three 3D-printed parts, ~ 10 hour total build time
- Customizable clamp size, arm length, book thickness allowance, other ergonomic adjustments
- Removable clips (bookmarks)
- Curved clips that allow pages to be turned & tucked under
