whirlwind wheelchair international product design for social benefit keoke king independence through...
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Whirlwind Wheelchair International
Product Design for Social BenefitKeoke King
Independence through quality mobility and sustainable development
Product Design for Social Benefit
1. Background on Whirlwind2. Our approach to product design3. Our approach to development4. Social business - for-profit similar different to non-profit5. Questions
Whirlwind Wheelchair International
Since 1989 Whirlwind has been collaborating with Wheelchair riders around the world to create durable designs for rough terrain that empower people with disabilities through independent mobility and sustainable economic development.
Roger Mibence Leon, Nicaragua
Whirlwind Basics
• Non-Profit Mission1. Independence through quality mobility2. Local economic development• Whirlwind uses contract manufacturing in the developing world• Two major chapters:Whirlwind 1.0 - small grant funded shops Whirlwind 2.0 - medium scale factories with revenue from sales • Historically - Open source intellectual property
1979: Managua, Nicaragua
Ralf Hotchkiss found: • Four young men sharing one wheelchair• Inappropriate technology
Ralf and friends created:• Local designs and parts • Low capital requirement• Employment for riders
A Good Wheelchair Can . . .
1.Help you stay clean and healthy2.Take you to school3.Get you to a job4.Go shopping and raise a family5.Promote social acceptance
The Need: 20 Million Plus
need a good need a good wheelchair and do not wheelchair and do not
have onehave one
20M+
The Need
70% of the 20 million live 70% of the 20 million live ruralrural areas with lack of areas with lack of
pavementpavement
ruralrural
urbanurban
1989: SFSU Nonprofit Incubator
At SFSU Whirlwind brought research and public service together
• Intellectual and lab resources for R&D• Funded by SFSU, donations and grants for establishing small wheelchair shops
Product Design Whirlwind’s Approach:
• User-Originated • Iterative design process• Rapid Prototyping• Designers are users• SF Hub & Many Innovation locations• Simple manufacturing techniques• Open source IP
MADE – Uganda
Small Shop Dissemination
• 46 small shops started• In 2003, 25 shops were ongoing • 50,000 + riders
Small Shops
Production per Month 0 to 20 *
Cost to set up < $10,000
Fitting B
Quality of Chairs C+
Design Criteria - From Rider / Builders
• Safe - stable
• Maneuverable
• Foldable
• No removable parts
• Comfortable
• Cheap to build
• Locally customizable design
• Easy to build – low education/ skill required
• Easy and cheap to repair
• Indoors/Outdoors - desks, doors, mud, rocks, dirt, sand, stones
The User MUST Be A Leader
• Users are Rider/Builders
• Users are testers
• Ralf is Founder and Chief Engineer
• Hiring preference for direct experience with disability
Social Business“It is not a social social or a business business. It is a social business.” Marc Krizack
Similar / Different to For Profit Orgs• no investors • can accept donations• operate in less profitable spaces• you CAN make a profit
Social BusinessBusiness Principals• Use the market?• Inter-dependence not Independence• Scale• Control Costs • Influence Standards• Measurement and Improvement
Family of Products1. RoughRiderTM
2. Active Kid’s Chair3. Trike Add-on for
RoughRider4. Cargo Trike – for micro
enterprise5. Standard Style Chair6. Open Source Accessories
Social Business Consequences
In 2000, small shops encounter globalization effects:
1.Competition from imports
In 2010 our design is copied.
We are re-organizing around our durable competitive advantage.
2. Designs could be standardized because of wider availability of components
Thank You
• [email protected]• Please email me right away to join our mailing list
We look forward to hearing from you:
whirlwindwc