2021 GOOD DESIGN AWARD OF THE YEAR

Intelligent Personal EV for empowered mobility wins Australian Good Design Award of the Year 2021.

We all hit stumbling blocks from time to time. For most of us, these are metaphorical challenges for our psyches to surmount. However, for those with mobility issues, navigating daily life and the simplest of tasks presents literal obstacles that can feel like mountains.

When the designers at WHILL heard their wheelchair-bound friend say – “I’ve given up on even going to the grocery store just two blocks away” – they knew it was time to put their combined expertise across transportation and engineering to the test.

Not only was their friend exhausted by the physical difficulty of traversing from A to B, let alone beyond, they could see the toll that being self-conscious and feeling less than capable was having emotionally. They also knew he was by no means alone.

*WHILL Model C2 Personal Mobility – 2021 Australian Good Design Award of the Year*

Currently, there are more than one billion people who live with disabilities[1] in the world and over 75 million people who need a wheelchair on a daily basis[2]. The world’s population is also ageing rapidly. From 900 million in 2017, the number of people over 60 is expected to more than double to 2.1 billion people by 2050. Given we are still a long way from truly inclusive smart cities – and environments that are accessible to all – there is a huge opportunity to tackle the needs of current and future mobility challenged people.

“We wanted to address the negative stigma as well as the antiquated design and function of wheelchairs and scooters with a personal mobility device that could help people overcome the physical, emotional and psychological barriers that limited mobility can impose,” explains WHILL CEO Satoshi Sugie.

The design team at WHILL took an empathetic approach to re-engineering the wheelchair for the 21^st century, fusing innovative design and smart technology. Conventional wheelchairs were designed as ‘medical devices’ for ‘patients’, and are completely outmoded for people wishing to be fully integrated in society. The Model C2 continues WHILL’s quest to empower personal mobility. This model significantly updates the functionality and features of its Model C predecessor at a lower price point.

WHILL’s Model C2 Personal Mobility EV received Australia’s Good Design Award of the Year 2021 and impressed the jury as “an excellent resolution of a product where designers can really make a difference and help to make people’s lives better.”

Both powerful and agile, WHILL’s Model C2 is exhilarating and fun to drive. From socializing with friends and family to exploring the great outdoors, the Model C2 empowers users to enjoy their world freely, indoors and out. Finally, there is a personal mobility EV that boosts users’ confidence, independence and feeling of being in control.

FORM AND FUNCTION

With its clean lines, minimal form and ergonomics, the Model C2 puts users in an active rather than passive posture. This simple shift helps boost user confidence and encourages a can-do lifestyle.

“The intent is to fundamentally change the attitude of the user and perception of surrounding people through an active design language,” says Sugie.

The Model C2 boasts two motors powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that can be removed and charged in a regular household outlet. WHILL’s Model C2 can travel approximately 18kms on a 5-hour charge, giving users ample power to go about their day.

Large patented omni-wheels can traverse diverse, uneven terrain and climb over obstacles up to 5cm in height with ease, all while maintaining a tight turning radius. Rollers on the omni-wheels allow it to glide sideways for increased manoeuvrability. The C2 can accelerate to 8km/h, and its LED screen shows speed and remaining battery power. It can also tackle inclines of up to 10 degrees and will climb steeper terrain with safety warnings for the user. The low-profile joystick gives users excellent control without wrist fatigue. Seat height and back are fully adjustable. Comfort is ensured with premium cushioning and adjustability to guard against pressure sores. With a total weight of 52kg, the Model C2 easily disassembles into three main components for easy transport in a car boot.

SMART TECHNOLOGY

Added control comes in the form of an integrated app and security features. Users can summon their chair from their smartphone and remotely control it. The C2 can be locked and unlocked using the smartphone app to prevent theft or misuse. Technical support and troubleshooting are also available through the app.

SAFETY

The Model C2 is able to drive straight on tilted paths, preventing it from skidding and drifting. Rear wheel suspension absorbs the impact when driving over bumpy roads or obstacles. There is also a small speaker, from which emanates a voice advising the user if they exceed any of the chairs limits. The tail light is clearly visible even with a bag hung over the back support, keeping the user safe at night and in low light. Its waterproof performance is IPX4 for practice daily use.

JURY COMMENTS (ENGINEERING DESIGN AND PRODUCT DESIGN): WHILL MODEL C2

“A very attractive and cleverly designed product that addresses a clear need. It elegantly reinvents the current clunky, medical-look of most personal mobility vehicles we see in Australia today. It is a great looking device, with a clean, minimalist, aesthetic. The fact the electric motors are hidden out of sight in the wheel and chassis contributes to the clean look.

The use of large omni-wheels to aid in navigating obstacles, tightening the turning circle and enabling sideways movement is clever. The more active seating position will no doubt be greatly appreciated by users as it puts them on a more equal level with able bodied people, such as when seated at a table. Also has a great looking app that not only will bring a chair to the person, but also hints at autonomous ability.

The market for such a product is already huge but set to grow significantly, so it addresses a clear need and has obvious commercial potential, provided it is priced well. This entry is an excellent resolution of a product where designers can really make a difference and help to make people’s lives better. A superb rethink and reinvention of the wheelchair.

The design addresses many of the challenges of conventional wheelchairs. The lightweight styling is very appealing, while the ability to easily stow in a car and to readily navigate difficult terrain are major successes. The simple fact of ageing populations makes the WHILL a high value-proposition design because it gives people with constrained mobility more independence and higher quality of life (through enhanced mobility, reduced stigma and more independence).”

[1] According to the World Health Organization (WHO) a disabled person is anyone who has “a problem in body function or structure, an activity limitation, has a difficulty in executing a task or action; with a participation restriction”.

[2] Source: https://www.inclusivecitymaker.com/disabled-people-in-the-world-in-2021-facts-and-figures/

2021 GOOD DESIGN JURY INSIGHTS

2021 JURY INSIGHTS

Every year, Good Design Australia invites renowned design experts from Australia and around the world to participate in the Australian Good Design Awards evaluation process. Jury Members consist of leading design experts and are selected based on their area of expertise and ability to bring an individual perspective to the design evaluation process.

This year we took the opportunity to ask our jurors what Good Design means to them.

Q: WHAT DOES GOOD DESIGN MEAN TO YOU?

ROBERT JURGENS – “For me, Good Design is design that delights… whether through beauty, functionality, semantics, usefulness, sustainability, business or cultural impact or other beneficial qualities.”

SHAUN GREENBLO – “For me, Good Design is considered design. It’s putting the customer at the heart of creation and keeping sustainability top of mind.”

BESSI GRAHAM – “For me, Good Design is intentional creation that doesn’t stop at the first iteration but continues to explore until uncovering the win-win.”

KAZUO TANAKA – “For me, a Good Design is one which suggests a better society of tomorrow. It will solve arising problems through innovation, leading to new businesses. Above all, designing is an act to enrich human hearts.”

DANIELLE BRUSTMAN – “For me, Good Design is pushing an idea or concept to its fullest potential and executing at the highest level.”

RACHEL DE SAIN – “For me, Good Design is about blending the EQ and IQ, function, form AND fabulousness.”

NANCY DOUYON – “Good Design is considering inclusiveness and universal access.”

Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF BEING A DESIGNER?

GAVIN IVESTER – “My favourite thing about working in design is seeing products I influenced being used in ways never anticipated, in unfamiliar settings, by people I’ve never met. Whether they’re being used to solve big problems or just bring joy, the reason we design is to make life better.”

JAMES TOOMEY – “My favourite part of being a designer is having the opportunity to create social cohesion through design.”

TERRI WINTER – “My favourite part of being a designer is the opportunity to change the mindset of people through the spaces they inhabit and the products they interact with. I love being a designer because I can lift the spirits of people by providing them with spaces and products that delight them on a day to day basis. Not just giant wow products – all the little details that can change your day.”

SHENG-HUNG LEE – “I love being a designer because it helps me to see things beyond the surface to truly understand design challenges, resonate with people’s pain points, needs, and desires, and come up with solutions through being empathetic.”

JAMES SOLARI – “I love seeing the joy my work brings to the people who live in the homes I design. It’s such a fulfilling profession. I still get a buzz every time I drive by a building I’ve designed.”

Q: WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

NICOLA MANSFIELD – “I am inspired by the unexpected, where the simple beauty of a solution is so outstanding that it makes you stop and marvel.”

MIA FEASEY – I’m inspired by the endless possibilities. I get inspiration from the knowledge that creative thinking can help solve some of the biggest issues our world is facing. I’m hungry to get out there and do more of it.

BEN CROTHERS – “I know it’s a cliché, but my inspiration comes from nature… Nature has already solved every problem there is; we just have to improve our powers of observation and reframing.”

MISHA KAUR – “My inspiration comes from a diverse array of places. From the small interactions with people that may seem benign, from reading and hearing from thought leaders, from the teams I lead who create magic every day, from the creative tension that sprouts from the gap between the expectation of the world we should live in and the reality of the world in which we do. It comes from seeing people walk away happier, more content, better off as a result of great design.”

WILLIAM COX – “My inspiration comes from young and emerging professionals. At home I’m often learning about new tech from my son and at work, seeing how Aurecon’s digital natives harness technology is a constant source of inspiration.”

TIM KOBE – “I’m inspired by the times we live in. Much of the work we create needs to have purpose and in order to have purpose, it requires a context. To me, that context is the inspiration.”⁠

PAULA ADAMSON – “Inspiration for me is being able to play a part in bringing innovative ideas into a public domain where it connects us to each other in our community and to the world around us.”

Q: WHAT DOES WINNING A GOOD DESIGN AWARD REPRESENT?

ANDY HOMAN – “Ever since my days studying design at uni I always considered the Good Design Awards as the highest accolade in the design industry. Winning a Good Design Award is about recognising and rewarding those who are pushing the boundaries in terms of innovation and have excelled at the highest level.”

RICHARD FERLAZZO – “Winning a Good Design Award not only recognises creativity and innovation, but more importantly it acknowledges the valuable contribution to society.”

NICOLE LARKIN – “It means recognition from peers in the industry, but it also exposes you to some of the best design work and designers currently working.”

LUCIANO PAPI – “There is no better feeling than being recognised by your peers.”

PROF. KEN MCBRYDE – “I think the most important aspect is the process of entering… This process of reflection is an important part of our journey as a designer. In this program we get to see so many entries from such a talented community of designers, sharing knowledge and experience across so many different aspects of the design world – this is an absolute treat that comes as being part of this awards series. Once you enter you’re never a loser.”

JANE MACMASTER – “Winning a Good Design Award is a wonderful honour – the art and science of design is perhaps the most valuable skill we can have, because good design is what’s required to have lasting and meaningful impact in the world.”

SEE THE JURY MEMBERS FULL RESPONSES ON OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE @GOODDESIGNAUS