Fall 2009
Category: Product Concept
For this project we had to create a prosthetic device which would either help or hinder people's movement through the Art Building.
I noticed that, when entering through the main doors, people would try to be polite and hold the door open for others, but because they had to continue through the doorway to avoid blocking the door, they would move past the point on the door where they could comfortably hold it open and the door would begin to close anyway and the person behind them would have to hold open the door for themselves.
The Extend-An-Arm door system hopes to help people fully hold the door open for others while entering the building by allowing the force needed to hold the door open to be administered from a spot where a person would not be blocking the doorway. The system allows people to follow through with their gesture of goodwill. The use of the device also points out the kind act more than the normal failed attempt to hold the door open. This way, people's kind acts don't go unnoticed and people receiving the kind gesture will be inspired to commit more kind acts for others.
The ultimate goal of the Extend-An-Arm door system is to foster goodwill and kindness.
