'CALCEUS' SHOE APPLICATOR
Co - designed to return independence
ABOUT
In 2019 TOM's first regional make-athon I was selected to be apart of a collaborative team with medical experts and engineers to help design a custom shoe applicator, for our 'Need Knower' Joanne to be able to independently put her shoe on and off. My role within this volunteer position was overseeing all product management progress by taking responsibility of setting a product vision and strategy, leading cross-functional teams from our product's conception all the way through to our final MVP for our 'Need Knower' Joanne and finally managing the requirements for each feature and the desired user experience, to ensure the final design fulfilled the brief set by TOM Ballarat and was user-friendly for Joanne to use in her home.
MEET JOANNE OUR NEED KNOWER
Joanne is a 47-year-old with a neurological degenerative muscular disease which limits her mobility in her arms and legs. Joanne has trouble using her hands due to her flexed wrists and poor skin quality, making simple tasks incredibly difficult. Joanne would like a device to help hold her shoes open so that she can easily and independently slide her feet in.
The device has been constructed using two hardwood panels supported by a pneumatic actuator that can adjust the pitch and angle of the platform.
The platform also contains a lip to secure either left or right shoe and a magnetic hook mechanism that holds the shoe tongue open.
