Hi! We’re Esha and Addison! We designed ElevAid after noticing our grandparents have issues reaching high surfaces due to their age and mobility issues. Regular step stools do not provide them with enough support to confidently take a step. Looking at the current market for mobility-friendly step stools we found many plain, industrial, unwelcoming designs. We set out to change that!

Supplies

2ft x 4ft x 1/3 in sheet of plywood

Wood glue (and paintbrushes)

60-220 Grit Sandpaper

Steel wool

Wood conditioner

Wood Stain

Polyurethane Wood Finish

CNC machine, 1/4 in bit

Clamps

Step 1: Getting Ideas

Right off the bat, we agreed we wanted to include a “handle” to provide that extra support. After deciding on our design direction, we ideated more to begin exploring how to incorporate the handle in a way that felt natural. The starred sketches influenced our sketch models.

At this stage, we experimented with the railings. Here, we realized that these railings would not fit onto our plywood. Design 4 was created as a potential solution to minimize the amount of material used for the rail. Ultimately, we felt that these designs were too modern for our inspiration, and we pivoted our designing.

Step 2: Fusion Round 1

In our first model we went the direction of incorporating banisters and a very traditional feel to the stool. This matched our inspiration board but felt too disconnected. The legs of the stool were very rectangular with a lot of negative space under them.

Step 3: Fusion Round 2

In our second model we simplified the banister and added more rounded elements. The shape was very simple. The assembly stayed the same as the first cardboard iteration. Here we discovered a couple of structural problems:

The railing was not very secure because it was only sitting on top of the steps
The steps were not supported properly

Step 4: Final Fusion Model

To correct the structural issues we redesigned the frame and connections within the model. Now, the railing is integrated into the legs of the stool to provide continuity and stability. Rounded elements and curves were added throughout to create a cohesive design language. These changes corrected our concerns about the structure and disconnectedness of the overall design.

Step 5: CNC File

We used Fusion to flat lay all of our pieces with a half inch gap in between to account for the kerf of the CNC machine.

Our building process began by using the CNC machine to create our parts. After, we sanded all the edges and dry assembled the pieces to ensure they fit properly.

Step 6: Assembly and Finishing

Our building process began by using the CNC machine to create our parts. After, we sanded all the edges and dry assembled the pieces to ensure they fit properly.

After the wood glue cured, we began the process of staining by conditioning the wood using wood conditioner. Then, following the instructions on the cans, we waited the appropriate duration and applied stain. To seal the stool, we applied a coat of polyurethane wood finish.

Step 7: Final Step Stool!

We realize in the real world, consumers would desire different colorways than the stain we chose. So, we rendered additional possibilities using Fusion.

ElevAid is the mobility aid step stool created to assist the elderly and those with mobility challenges in accessing elevated surfaces in a way that blends seamlessly into their daily lifestyle and home’s environment.

Introduction: ElevAid: the Mobility Aid Step Stool