We received this news piece about an invention that can make painting easier – won’t necessarily make you a good artist but at least it’s made possible. It’s called the enAball and we’re waiting to hear when it may go into production.
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DESIGN STUDENTS RESTORE ARTISTIC INDEPENDENCE
A team of 5 University of Brighton BSc (Hons) Product Design students are in the running for an award for designing and developing an innovative new product that enables disabled wheelchair users to paint.
Each member of the team are on various work placements around the country as well as running the Brighton-based design firm ‘The Process’ in their spare time. Their product, the ‘enAball’ is a portable and adaptable painting device that allows wheelchair users to independently express themselves through the medium of art.
Their latest creation was developed in conjunction with the Sussex MS Centre. This allowed the students to work directly with MS sufferers and design their concept with a user centred approach, creating a product that can be used by a variety of paralysed individuals. The students were also working with the National charity REMAP and have been nominated for their annual award. REMAP is a national charity where volunteer engineers build bespoke solutions to help disabled individuals lives and independence.
Speaking about the project Peter Barr said: “We wanted to design something which elevated the creative freedom disabled individuals were previously deprived of. The enAball uses a ball bearing as a paint applicator giving the user 360 degrees of movement, and its small size and portable nature requires only a small amount of space to operate. The current market is populated by big, ungainly and messy products which restrict the users freedom through flawed rollers, barrels and wheels. Our product requires minimal assistance to set up, and the arms are adaptable, meaning the product can attach to a range of wheelchairs – from an adult’s to child’s”.
The project has been shortlisted for the Santander Ideas Prize in Brighton, and now has the chance to receive over £2000 in vital funding.
Commenting on making the shortlist Benson Pocock said:”It is a fantastic opportunity, especially after the time and effort we have invested in the project. It would be brilliant to win. We hope that winning the competition will spread more awareness of the enAball and the money would be invested in materials and equipment that would allow us to batch produce the product. The next goal is to try and supply more centres across the country and help more people”.
More on the enAball, along with more of the team’s design work, can be seen at www.theprocess.design