

Adapt or Design
158 snips Jun 3, 2025
A personal journey reveals the challenges of adapting to life with a disability, emphasizing accessible design. Creative solutions like DIY aglets and magnetic buckles tackle one-handed challenges. The speaker navigates driving and everyday tasks, illustrating how design often overlooks left-handed and disabled users. Innovations in adaptive keyboards highlight the search for ergonomic solutions, blending functionality with comfort. The conversation stresses the importance of health awareness in design, linking it to broader issues like HPV vaccination.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Kurt's Paralysis Onset Story
- Kurt Kolstad experienced sudden paralysis in his right arm after a neuro cardiac event.
- His girlfriend insisted on immediate hospital care, highlighting the severity of his condition.
Design Challenges of One-Handed Living
- One-handed living reveals design challenges in everyday objects like clothing and pocket usage.
- Carrying essential items requires creative adaptations to compensate for limited hand functionality.
Shoelace Solutions for One Hand
- Use lace locking kits to convert shoelaces for easy one-handed fastening.
- Seal cut lace ends with heat shrink tubing to prevent unraveling safely and subtly.