Warning: this course completely defied my expectations and was not at all what I expected it to be after reading the course description and past testimonials – and that’s a good thing! When I registered for this course in early January I was looking for a way to get out of my R class. 357 looked enticing and I had thoroughly enjoyed my time with Vishal when I took BADM352 last spring. I sent him a brief email with why some of the concepts we planned to cover this semester enticed me and viola, I was enrolled.
My initial thoughts were that this class was going to be like other small business classes I had taken in the past. Each student pitches an idea, and then 6 or 7 teams are formed and for the rest of the semester that group of initial ideas grew whilst everyone else’s ideas were tucked away. Instead, Vishal partnered with the Adam Bleakney and the rest of the DRES community to be our mentors for the semester.
I personally found this scope a lot more fulfilling and impactful than yet another semester long class which goes nowhere after the course is over. Each team ended up with tangible prototypes of solutions to opportunities within our mentors’ lives. Our team worked with Ryan Wilson, a recent Illinois graduate and power wheelchair user.
Our group’s initial ideas became centered around personalization and identity, but we quickly came to realization that we were trying to personalize through design and not utility. After speaking further with Ryan, he highlighted the fact that he stills uses a Ziploc bag to protect the electronics on the arm of his chair from water damage. Ryan even told that he has gotten stuck in the rain during a storm and he had to wait for someone else to assist him under cover, so his electronics could dry off and power on his chair.
We then conducted a search for other products which were designed to solve this problem. And to our astonishment we found very little out there. The most common product was a bag like cover which was a pullover and had to be attached and detached each time it was to be used. Other products included canopy-like covers for the entire chair, and attachable umbrellas.
Throughout this search process we realized two key things: each of the other solutions had to be attached and detached; and nothing could be personalized. Everything had kind of come full circle, except that we were now solving a relevant problem alongside the value-add of personalization.
After spring break, we regrouped yet again with a concrete focus: We had the goal of creating a prototype during the Makeathon which was held in early April. We knew we wanted a product which did not have to be taken on and off, we wanted it to be a permanent part of the chair. Our team drew immediate inspiration from silicone phone cases. They were also permanent solutions which were made from a waterproof-material that was tight fit. The ridges for the volume and home buttons featured in the silicone cases gave us validation that Ryan would still be able to use the buttons through the silicone case. Additionally, to ensure Ryan could see his screen, we decided that our silicone casing would be clear.
The Makeathon weekend culminated nicely, as our group shared 1st place. After the Makeathon, our teammate Matthew made a phenomenal 3D printed injection silicone mold based on a 3D scan of Ryan’s chair. During further market research we also discovering that there were only 21 wheelchair manufacturers in the United States (IBIS World). By simply creating 1 3D printed injection mold, we have theoretically catered to nearly 5% of the power wheelchair market, a $4B industry in 2018. As a business student I found the intersection of utilitarian design and economic opportunity utterly fascinating.
I enrolled in this class with some expectations that were altered quickly as soon as we were introduced to the scope of the course. It did not give me as much individual freedom as I had expected, but the partnerships and vision made it all worth it. After meeting the other professors, we became one big family at the Makeathon, all united through a mission to improve the lives of others – and that is something that is greater than any individual can be.
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