Design Thinking & Communication
As a Freshman at Northwestern, my team of four students collaborated with Shirley Ryan Ability Lab on a Design Thinking and Communication (DTC) project to create a tool that would enable patients with hemiplegia to tie their hair into a ponytail using only one hand. Through our collaborative effort, we came up with the "MyTie," which is a hat that allows patients to safely secure, gather, and tie their hair with one hand. We worked closely with the client over ten weeks, understanding their needs and brainstorming potential solutions. We created a series of prototypes and tested them until we arrived at a final design that met the client's requirements.
At the end of the quarter, we presented our findings and prototype to our peers and professors, showcasing the results of our innovative solution and we received a design award for our prototype.
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Design criteria for a hair ponytail device:
Prioritize safety by using non-toxic materials and easy-to-remove design to avoid harm to individuals with decreased mobility.
Effectively gather hair and hold it securely in a neat and lasting ponytail.
Empower the user by allowing them to create their own ponytail without assistance, in a quick and efficient manner.
Portable, compact and lightweight for convenience and ability to make a ponytail wherever desired.
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The design process started with the creation of a "Laundry Bag Tie" , and “Hat with a Hole” mockups for the one-handed ponytail tying design. However, after conducting user testing, it was found that these designs were inadequate and needed to be revamped.
The new iterations incorporated a drawstring mechanism inspired by a hoodie string to allow for easy hair gathering. A round shoelace string was used for the drawstring, enabling easy one-handed pulling and hair-holding. To keep the hair in place, a stopper knot was added to the drawstring. Additionally, a tab was included, allowing users to tie their hair into a ponytail with an elastic band. The tab was made of thick polyester to ensure durability, flexibility, and sturdiness during use.
The final design remains secure even when the user pulls on the elastic band, making it the ultimate hair-helper.
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The MyTie addresses the problems that previous products could not. MyTie gathers and secures the user’s hair, and allows them to create a ponytail both independently and with ease.
Once the process is complete the user can loosen the drawstring and pull off the hat, displaying a kempt ponytail.
One potential improvement would be to find a way to allow users to produce high, mid, or low ponytails based on their preference. This would add variety and open the product up to more people. Further research and development could explore potential solutions to this challenge, providing additional benefits to users and improving the overall functionality of the product.
Design Process
“My mission in life is not merely to survive but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, same humor and some style.” – Maya Angelou
Ibrahima Bah
(917) 609-9984
ibrahimabah2023@u.northwestern.edu