The design of walking sticks: Use, manufacturing and abandonment

Abstract

This article studies the history of walking sticks, the consequences of the negative stigma around it and explores how it can be redesign to serve people nowadays and help them to have a better posture, movement and occupy the space that belongs to them too. In order to develop a product better for their users, ergonomic problem were used in order to find the gap the products available leaves and to notice how the users handle the product. Meanwhile a investigation is made with the user, family and a team of physiotherapist focusing on how the user feels about the product and about being seen using it. With those points considered it was created an alternative for a new design that reduces the double gait support during the swing phase. It is also aesthetically pleasing, drawing attention to it by the design making the owner feels proud of using it.