PILLAR
SPRING 2024
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
BLENDER RENDERING AND ANIMATION
PRODUCT DESIGN
MOTION GRAPHICS
RESEARCHED BASED DESIGN
IDENTITY AND BRANDING
In response to the strikingly high rates of neck pain reported by surgeons around the world, this research driven design is an exoskeleton built to aid the neck in supporting the head through pulley systems and spring tension.
The design created for this project was aimed answering the following problem statement:
“in a research survey on the prevalence of neck pain in working surgeons, over 70% of their respondents reported episodes of neck pain weekly. this chronic pain not only incapacitates the workers, but also puts the lives of patients at risk. with the emergence of more complex medical technology, how can we utilize this to support surgeons, not just in recovery, but prevention of this chronic neck pain as they work to save lives of people around the world?”
The Exoskeleton design works with a pulley system incorporated into the back portion (shown below) to try to offset the movement of the head forward with the elastic straps, offsetting the weight put on the neck to move the head down significantly.
For adjustability, the extruding portions on the antennae work to help increase the height for those with differing neck heights, with the lower half extending to allow for people with different torso sizes to find their fit. The dial on the back increases or decreases the tension of the straps, able to be modified easily for different user needs.
Stability. Power. pillar.
The product name is Pillar, signifying the stability and power that comes with its use. Using a simple mark inspired by the shape of the exoskeleton itself, the branding reflects the simple nature of the product and the people using it.
The main use case for the product’s advertisement culminated in a trade booth, using large format environmental design paired with motion graphics and print layouts.
Wanting to provide a space for interaction that might resemble real world use, a LED interactive screen was incorporated to create the experience of being at the operation table while testing the product.