Tri Cane

For elderlies and people with physical ailments, mobility in an urban environment is greatly limited. Current solutions available are mainly generic walking-cane-and-chair hybrids that are often bulky and unwieldy. They also expose too much of the users’ dependence on an object for assistance. Feeling stigmatised, many are discouraged to use them in public. As an alternative solution, Tri Cane is an assistive product that easily disguises as a lifestyle item due to its slim and understated appearance. A good design should consider both the physical and mental user experiences. In this case, Tri Cane aims to strike a balance between encouraging independence and providing for the user’s physical needs. Tri Cane also hopes to offer temporary respite and reduce the burden of walking to increase the user’s mobility and confidence, thus improving the quality of their lives. Tri Cane is positioned as a lifestyle product, rather than an assistive product. Elements of a chair, like the large seat area and split legs are greatly reduced. The supporting legs merge into a single stick form that is visually subtle. The unique folding mechanism of the legs is similar to that of a tripod and facilitates quick and intuitive operation. When the user gets tired of walking or standing, Tri Cane can be easily transformed into a chair. As a chair, the three supporting legs with a non-slip base provide stable and balanced seating. As a walking stick, the elastic base absorbs shock from the ground, which enhances the comfort of use. Red Dot Award: Design Concept | Concept | Third Age