Piers Smyth

Hand Truck Redesign - The current system of handles and suggested gripping positions on hand trucks are inadequate for best possible use. As a whole, hand trucks are unable to accommodate a wide range of people and make the operation both difficult and dangerous for many people. The goal of this project was to use our knowledge of human factors in design to redesign the experience of using a hand truck in order to make it safer and more comfortable for the user. The design was tested for ergonomics, comfort, and real-life application.

Ergonomic Handle Redesign - The current materials and tooling processes that were used in the Hand Truck Handle attachments are not the best suited for production, making the handles less effective, less sturdy, and far too expensive to manufacture. My goal was to research more effective materials that would both stand up to the stresses applied during use and still portray the desired emotional properties and reduce cost.

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