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An ergonomic glass bead making station designed with the refugee community in mind
Problem
Refugees and immigrants the world over, especially women, face many barriers to employment and lack access to additional income sources
Glass bead making takes fine motor movement and numerous areas of the body get sore quickly
Research
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Key findings from speaking with refugee agencies
Folks often have artistic skills from their home country but no outlet for them in their new home
Employment can be hard to find especially with a language barrier
Work and educational milestones often times are not accepted in new country
Entrepreneurship and tax documentation pose additional challenges
A community arts center is the best option for fostering refugee made creative goods
Key values
6
Months
After 6 months in US, folks are expected to be fully financially self sufficient
75%
Of glass that enters the waste stream goes to landfills
110
Million
Glass bottles head to U.S. landfills each day
Product + System Goal
A product and product system that facilitates a means for refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers to create creative artifacts from waste material, that can be sold for an income.
Inspiration
I discovered that beautiful glass beads can be made from discarded shards of glass
Sketching + Ideation
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Prototyping - Body & Elbow Rests
Completed Partial Working Prototype
Foot Pedal Appearance Model
Electric Mandrel Spinner and Holder
Ergonomic Glass Bead Making Station
Comfortable body positioning with plenty of adjustability
Full System Breakdown
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