Functionality meets aesthetics: why the design of assistive devices is more important than ever

While the functionality of assistive devices is improving, there is often still room for improvement when it comes to design. People with disabilities are attaching increasing importance to their aids being not only functional but also visually appealing. We took a look at what manufacturers are already doing to fulfil this need and spoke to users of assistive devices to discover where there is room for improvement.

Aids such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, prostheses and walking aids are an integral part of everyday life for many people with disabilities. They enable mobility, independence and participation in social life. Their flawless functionality is undoubtedly essential. However, while the focus was primarily on the functional aspects of these aids for many years, more recently their aesthetic design has also come to the fore.

Many users want an appealing design that emphasizes their personality and does not stigmatize them. A snap survey in the REHACARE Instagram community for this year's International Wheelchair Day illustrates this trend: 68% of respondents consider functionality to be the most important aspect of a wheelchair. The second most important: appearance and design (15%).

A conversation with Laura Gehlhaar confirms this: Good and modern assistive technology design is important – for self-perception and external perception. The author and consultant for diversity, justice and inclusion lives in a wheelchair. She expresses exactly what she likes in one: "For me, a wheelchair has to be timeless. I want it to be stylish, but it also has to match my clothes and not steal the attention from me as a user. I want to be able to wear everything with it. For me personally, a wheelchair should therefore never have a bright color," says Laura Gehlhaar. "I think the leaps that have been made in recent years towards timeless design are really very good. No matter what tool you're using, you can't just change it. It's always there and after you've chosen it. The style remains for many years."

However, Laura Gehlhaar is also pleased that the design of assistive devices has become more diverse in recent years. Not everyone likes plain, black wheelchairs. Many want eye-catching colors and personalized designs, such as their favorite music group on the spoke guard. She thinks it's great that these options are now available, because a wheelchair should also be able to reflect your personality.

According to Laura Gehlhaar, good design can also change society's perception of wheelchairs. Many non-disabled people still associate disabilities with something negative and unattractive. "If I then turn up with a stylish wheelchair, it somehow makes the whole thing more accessible for many people. That sounds bad, but when people attribute good taste to me as a disabled person, it breaks with blatant prejudices. Because the prejudice is that a disability or an aid is never beautiful," explains Laura Gehlhaar. That's another reason why good design for assistive devices is extremely important.

Some companies have recognized the importance of this topic in recent years and are increasingly focusing on the combination of functionality and aesthetics. One prominent example is Wolturnus. The manufacturer has set itself the task of developing wheelchairs that are a natural extension of the body. With customized wheelchairs, the Danish brand wants to give users the greatest possible freedom to participate in life with friends and family. A vision that resonates. At REHACARE 2023, Wolturnus presented the new "Tukan Super Light" wheelchair, among other things. The reactions to the model, which combines elegance, high functionality and comfort, were consistently positive. Incidentally, the predecessor model "Tukan" is also Laura Gehlhaar's current choice.

MEYRA is one of the world's best-known brands that has recognized the importance of combining design and functionality. One example of this is the NANO X folding wheelchair. It is space-saving and can be easily stowed away when not in use, according to the manufacturer. The minimalist design also offers numerous customisation options. With over 20 frame colors, colored Xtrend castor and drive wheels, accessories to match the frame color or made of carbon, there are many options for customizing the wheelchair to suit your personal taste.

Another company from Denmark that has already made it into the international press with its modern designs: byACRE. Their stylish rollators are praised for their modern look and high quality. These are the result from a brand from the medical sector that sees its customers as people with a zest for life – not as patients.

The importance of design in assistive devices is likely to increase further in the coming years. The trend towards individualized, aesthetically pleasing products is also reflected in the growing number of design competitions and awards that are being presented specifically for assistive devices. For example, the German start-up Parafree 2023 won the prestigious iF Design Award in the Healthcare category for its modular wheelchair. Recognitions such as these show that aesthetic aspects are increasingly being seen as an integral part of functionality.

In addition, new technologies such as 3D printing and smart materials may open up further possibilities in the future for designing appealing aids. This could further advance the personalization of assistive devices and enable users to express their individual needs and personal style to an even greater extent. One project that has taken this route is "GO" by LAYER – a customized, 3D-printed wheelchair designed to meet the individual needs of a variety of disabilities and lifestyles. The first photos, which could also have been taken from a NIKE campaign, were already a hit with the public a few years ago. The 3D printed wheelchair is not yet available to buy.

But there are also exciting approaches that focus on a tried and tested material: Wood. For example, Apollo wheelchairs from France are made of wood and are so impressive that designer Paul de Livron is currently making a special wooden wheelchair for the Pope. "The wooden wheelchairs I make are not yet on the market. They are prototypes with which I am trying things out and building up more and more expertise. Besides, I can't remain the only manufacturer of wooden wheelchairs and satisfy demand all over the world. I need to find partners who develop, produce and market wheelchairs similar to mine in their own countries. That is my hope," expresses Paul de Livron.

Danish designer Anker Bak is also focusing on wood as a material to produce aesthetic aids such as rollators and walking aids. These are not yet commercially available, but are in the development phase and should be on sale in the near future. To achieve this, Anker Bak is working with various furniture manufacturers. "I see my job as a designer as showing the world new possibilities and ideas and then having them realized by manufacturers," says Anker Bak. "My designs are ideas for a more humane future."

The increasing demand for aesthetically pleasing aids is an expression of the growing self-confidence and increased expectations of many people with disabilities. This is not a desire for luxury, but for inclusion and participation in public life. Manufacturers and designers who recognize these needs and incorporate them into their product development are making an important contribution. They show that functionality and aesthetics are not a contradiction in terms, but rather can complement and reinforce each other.

Jennifer Meyer
REHACARE.com