An independent painting setup for quadriplegics and others with limited mobility of their arms who struggle to participate in painting. I designed an autonomous painting setup which works with motion sensors and is fully rotatable to allow artists to comfortably position their pallets. Included are sketches of proposed ideas and designs.
2020 - 2021
Photoshop
Illustrator
Ruma Deb
Paintability Members
Our team, Paintability, merged design, science, and technology to address healthcare challenges. Five of us came together to brainstorm, prototype, test, and refine a design solution. Through numerous project pivots, countless sketches, prototypes, and late nights filled with whiteboarding, we are proud of the final design we've developed. We're excited to share the journey and the process that brought us here!
He does not have any mobility below the waist and has limited mobility below the neck, thus it is challenging to pursue many of his hobbies including painting. Although he’s a skilled painter, he is unable to set up his paint without assistance from another person.
To better understand James' needs, we began by having a detailed conversation with him about his condition and his painting process. James shared that while painting itself is not a major challenge, setting up his paints independently is a significant hurdle. We then conducted competitive research, which revealed that no existing art studio tools on the market are designed specifically to address the needs of quadriplegics seeking to set up their paints without assistance.
Key insights from our conversation with James include:
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Our first design for James to dispense paint was inspired by motion-detecting soap dispensers. After testing several paint pumps purchased from Amazon, we found that the paint remained usable and did not dry out within the pumps. Based on this, we designed a carousel system that allows James to easily spin and select his desired color. The carousel is paired with a palette to collect the paint.
During our first design review, we received valuable feedback, especially regarding the motion sensors. Reviewers highlighted that these sensors could be unreliable, potentially causing issues and spills for James—a concern we had also observed. Additionally, we identified inconsistent paint flow, likely due to the weight of the paint. Taking this feedback into account, we set to work on refining the design, focusing on addressing these challenges in the next iteration.
In our second design, we kept the carousel but replaced the motion sensors with buttons on top of each dispenser. We also inverted the dispenser: instead of pumping paint from bottom to top, we increased air pressure from the top to force paint out through a tube at the bottom. A mini air pump was used to pressurize the bottle and push paint through the tube. While this approach successfully dispensed the paint, we encountered an issue with the tube leaking small amounts of paint, which could create a mess for James. This became the next challenge to address.
In our latest iteration, we built on the dispenser design from the previous version, refining it to prevent leaks. We added a solenoid valve that only opens when the mini air pump is running, ensuring paint flows when needed and preventing spills when the pump is off. Working closely with James, we also fine-tuned the design to better suit his needs, adjusting the stand’s height and ensuring the buttons and palette were easily accessible. Based on his feedback, we replaced the carousel with a more compact 3x2 grid of six dispensers, simplifying the setup and saving space.
Currently, we're in the process of building the dispensers and stand, though progress has been delayed due to meeting restrictions from COVID-19. The final design, shown in the image above, features a portable unit with six dispensers that plug into a wall outlet. Each dispenser will have a button for selecting paint, which will be dispensed into a disposable aluminum palette stored in a drawer beneath the dispensers. This setup allows James to easily access and transfer paint to his canvas independently.
One of the key lessons we've learned is the importance of flexibility in the design process. Flexibility in both our thinking and approach was essential—not only during the design phase but also when we faced the challenges and setbacks caused by COVID-19. Our team was made up of individuals from diverse backgrounds and varying levels of technical expertise, so it was crucial to embrace these differences. By valuing each person's unique perspective and experience, we were able to collaborate effectively and strengthen the design as a whole.
Due to Covid-19, we were unable to meet as a group to collaborate on the fabrication of the final design. However, we are confident in the overall design and have prepared a detailed project outline, complete with pictures and calculations.
