A primary interest of mine is accessibility and disability design. The unique problems in this field are challenging and rewarding to resolve. And I find it teaches valuable principles about how catering to exceptional users pushes towards better user experience for all. The automatic door intended for wheelchair users is just as useful for the mother pushing a stroller or the resident bringing in groceries.
My capstone project explored this area of design by targeting patient independence and confidence in occupational therapy. Beginning with interviews with nurses and occupational therapists and led to designing a system of muscle sensors to assist understanding of a patient’s physical limits and abilities.
I am focused on design research as an integral part of my design process. This includes user interviews and testing, scholarly research, and expert input.
I have a wide variety of physical prototyping experience, including: 3D printing, foam modeling, woodworking, sewing, mold making, CNC modeling, and welding.