DARIUS ANTONOV
Independent 3D designer & art director,
creating outstanding designs.
Inspiration
Curiosity to understand how children with one hand manage to use stationary led me to spend time with children with one hand or deformed hands. Where i started my project with a general idea of one limb missing, i found out that there are many with both hands deformed.
Rather than generalizing my Target group, i focused on working for the children i had infront of me who hand never used scales, erasers, stencils in their life. Thus this project became user centric as i when along
Ria
Age 13
Maya had both hands but they were deformed and had one finger each. Maya's spirit and personality inspired me to make my product that would include her as a user.
Himanshu
Age 16
Himanshu only had one hand and found extremely hard to sharpen a pencil, use a scale, eraser or wash hands.
Sahil
Age 18
Sahil had one deformed hand like Maya and he mastered the art of writing with his feet as it was easier.
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Key Takeaways
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Not everyone is born with one hand which is perfectly normal.
A missing limb can be usually accompanied by deformity in the other limb.
The children in india with such deformities are not encouraged to use stationary and the ones that i interviewed had never used stationary in their life as it just was not friendly.
Every child had figured out his/her own innovative way to use to a pen/pencil to write which is the most basic of all.
Three fingers are used to hold down a pencil....
Why three? How do we eliminate other finger's support?
Three fingers are used to hold down a pencil while the other hand is needed to hold down the scale.
How do we avoid the use of other hand while using a scale like normal people?
Many other creative activities like stitching requires two hands but the activity is quite fun and therapeutic.
How do we make stitching possible for children with one hand?
In this project i had no restrictions, the requirement was to design for disabled
I tried to ideate and prototype various products in a random chronology to see what was more feasible and fun.
I used 3mm aluminium wire to wrap around a small cut sketchpen and added a strip of support on scale to glide down the scale where thumb helps to press down the scale in place.
Trying to figure out how can we cut shapes using only one hand.
PROTOTYPING
The course duration being two weeks, i ran straight into workshop bringing my visions into life, where i focused more on the pencil/pen.
Scales/stencils were an D.I.Y accessories that would further use the design of the pencil best to create the most comfortable way to use stationary.
"My utmost goal was not to create a kit but invent D.I.Y ways of using normal stationary with some design tricks and tips
I started quick prototyping ways to thread in a needle and stitch a design using only one hand.
I also ideated on how to make jewelry easily using only one hand.Thus i ended up making a setup to aid these creative activities.
The stencils were laser cut to help draw designs to stitch on the cloth
3d printing flexible finger caps and glueing pencil nib to see if it is comfortable
Using an existing product to create a stitching platform for one handed children
Final Designs
"The prototypes were sent to children in Apang Mangal Academy, in India with a successful response from their side
Replaceable pencil nib
3d printed custom finger cap
Hard Silicon or soft ABS
Black ink
Needle threading set
Jewelry making platform
Cloth
SPARE D.I.Y KIT
The course duration being two weeks, i ran straight into workshop bringing my visions into life, where i focused more on the pencil/pen.
Scales/stencils were an D.I.Y accessories that would further use the design of the pencil best to create the most comfortable way to use stationary
Redesigned pen and pencils
Tweaked Scale
Re designed Stencils with
spacing for thumb to press it down
Spacing to keep thumb
Redesigned pen and pencils
Tweaked Scale
Re designed Stencils with
spacing for thumb to press it down
Spacing to keep thumb
TESTING VIDEO
Watch the video to understand how the products work with each other and how can different products be used to get creative !
Also View
Prototype Testing
