Produktkonzepte mit mehr als einem Zustand – eine Gestaltung, die sich vom menschlichen Verhalten ableitet.
Ziel des Kurses war es, ein Produkt zu entwerfen, das zwischen verschiedenen Zuständen wechselt, sich nahtlos in alltägliche Handlungen integriert und dabei menschliches Verhalten im Gebrauch widerspiegelt.
Produktlösungen spielen eine zentrale Rolle in unseren täglichen Gewohnheiten – sie passen sich Übergängen in Bereichen wie Haushaltsleben, Mobilität, Ernährung, Reisen, Hygiene usw. an. Sie prägen unser Handeln und machen durch ihre wechselnden Bedingungen Funktionalität und Herkunft sichtbar, wodurch unser Verständnis für ihre Bedeutung vertieft wird – und letztlich nachhaltigere Interaktionen gefördert werden.
Das Zusammenspiel von Produkten, ihren wandelnden Zuständen und unserer Wahrnehmung im Alltag eröffnet Chancen für nachhaltiges und anpassungsfähiges Design.
English:
Conditions – Product concepts with shifting states – shaped by and responsive to human behavior.
The goal of the course was to design a product that transitions between states, integrating seamlessly into daily interactions and reflecting human behavior in use.
Product solutions play a key role in daily habits, adapting to transitions in areas such as household life, transportation, nutrition, travel, hygiene, etc. They shape our actions and, through their changing conditions, reveal functionality and origins, deepening our understanding of their function and meaning—ultimately fostering more sustainable interactions.
The interplay between products and their shifting states and our perception of them in daily use offers opportunities for sustainable and adaptive design.
How might we help people with problems in their hands to improve their condition in a playful way?
This question guided me throughout the project. The result is a small family of products that strengthen hand muscles, improve fine motor skills, and help relieve pain — all in a playful way. And the best part is, there is no need to hide them.
The ball specifically strengthens the hand muscles.
It allows the training of individual fingers and various grip types which is essential for many everyday tasks. In addition to conventional hand strengthening, the thumb is also included in the gripping exercises.
The cone functions like a hand warmer,
but can be used with either heat or cold. Thanks to its special lattice structure, the temperature is evenly released to the outside. This allows people with conditions like arthritis to gently warm up and activate their hands
in the morning, or to massage and relax them in the evening after work.
The conical shape supports the targeted use.
The ring helps to keep the hand flexible and mobile.
After injuries, surgeries, or neurological conditions – such as a stroke – an imbalance in the hand muscles can occur. The flexor muscles are often stronger and tend to shorten even more. The ring specifically activates the extensor muscles, helping to prevent long-term stiffness and maintain functional movement.