We collaborated with our friend and former colleague, Steven Vordenberg to design a pair of crutches to assist in his rehabilitation and daily activities. Together we have reimagined the crutch as a lifestyle product that inspires, motivates, and enables its users to traverse the world around them.
Understanding Our User
Steven is a former design manager and close friend of Farm. As someone managing a long-term disability, he faces challenges that impact mobility as well as his grip and dexterity. Steven needed an adaptive crutch that would enable him to achieve his goals and aspirations of gaining increased independence and access to the people and places he loves.
At Farm we use a human centered design approach to gain a deep understanding of our users and stakeholders. Steven needed a crutch that would allow independent donning & doffing and the ability to use his hands when needed. Our team brainstormed ways to allow for a customizable grip, wrist alignment, and weight bearing configurations to accommodate Steven’s needs as well as others with similar challenges.
Prototyping & Testing
Once we gained a deeper understanding of our user’s unique needs and challenges, we created a series of usable prototypes which we tested with our expert user. Prototyping is an invaluable part of our process, allowing us to quickly iterate through our ideas in a usable physical form.
Models were designed to be fully adjustable to test a range of positions and settings. Through this process, our team worked to solidify the architecture which became the foundation for the design effort.
Building a Vision
Our vision for “The Gentleman” concept was to create an understated, yet fashionable crutch, that exudes sophistication whether at home, work, or while enjoying leisure activities. This version represents another side of Steven’s sensibility that is focused on the elegance of simplicity, evoking a quiet confidence that he is known for.
The Gentleman
“The Gentleman” is a forearm crutch designed to enable an active social life by fitting into a range of environments Steven enjoys with friends and family, whether at home or out on the town. Utilizing lightweight materials, vibration absorption, and discreet adjustability provides utility without compromising appearance.
Inspired by Steven’s time as an industrial designer living in New York, the material selection, surface finish, and dark color treatments create a minimalist aesthetic that mirrors his quiet confidence.
On the surface, “The Gentleman” concept appears clean and simple, but offers discreetly placed adjustment features including handle position, angle, and pole length. Functional details include airflow channels in the arm rest padding, an impact absorbing foot, and generous pull tabs to ensure ease of use by people with dexterity challenges.
Brand Development
The name “TRAVERSE” is a nod to Steven’s drive for movement and forward progress. His relentless attitude toward self-improvement and his desire to traverse the world with independence is captured in the brand. Each concept represents this ethos differently, but the founding principles are the same.
