YEAR
Designed in 2024-2025
TYPE
Redesign Project
Inspiration
Spencer Nugent
SOFTWARE
Solidworks, Keyshot, Illustrator, Photoshop
SKILL SETS
Sketching, CAD, CMF, branding, visualisation
Modern homes, inaccessible appliances.
A growing need for universal laundry design.
It should be possible to create a washing machine for people with disability using universal design principles. Current machines exclude wheelchair users, the visually impaired, and those with cognitive and physical limitations.
Comfort compromised by inaccessible design.
Physical impairments
COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
Visual impairments
Empathy testing with real users.
Empathy kits were used to test current products on the market. Testing helps identify barriers an individual faces and understand their emotional experience with the product.
How to make laundry accessible?
washing machine
Interface
Door / Barrel
Tray Usage
PROBLEM
Difficulty for stroke and wheelchair users opening/closing doors and reaching for clothes.
Difficulty for visually impaired users loading detergent due to unclear labelling.
Difficulty for visually impaired users loading detergent due to unclear labelling.
SOLUTION
Lightweight doors with ergonomic handles. Removable basket system slides in and out.
Increase detergent capacity with bulk storage. Add colour-coded holders and tactile guides.
SIncrease detergent capacity with bulk storage. Add colour-coded holders and tactile guides.
From concept iterations to chosen form.
Multiple concepts were explored across the interface, door mechanism, detergent tray, and basket system. Sketching and lo-fi modelling led us to the final direction.
Prototyping to test.
A 1:1 cardboard prototype was built to test proportions, basket interaction, tray access, and wheelchair clearance. Physical testing validated ergonomic assumptions before CAD finalisation.
One dial. Infinite accessibility.
A single touch-screen scroll dial replaces all buttons. Three customisable preset buttons reduce complexity to a single press. Audible confirmation and visual feedback ensure use for all.
Simple by design.
Reducing complexity down to a single interaction — because laundry should never be a barrier.
Tap to start — the dial wakes and guides you through each setting step by step.
Swipe to select — scroll through time, temperature, and spin style options.
Tap to confirm — each selection is spoken aloud for visually impaired users.
Save as preset — store your favourite settings so next time it's just one tap.
Colour-coded. Bulk capacity.
The detergent tray incorporates colour-specific intakes visible to colour blind users, guided gaps to prevent spillage, and bulk storage to reduce refilling frequency.
Guided gaps in the detergent intakes direct the user's hand and bottle into the correct position, reducing spillage and confusion for visually impaired users.
Load it. Slide it in.
The portable double basket system removes the need to reach inside the drum. Simply fill, slide in, and the machine locks it in place. Designed for wheelchair users, stroke survivors, and anyone with limited mobility.
Built for production.
The drum uses rolled stainless steel for corrosion resistance. Outer panels are pressed zinc-coated steel. The basket is injection-moulded polypropylene — chosen for chemical and heat resistance in wet environments.
Where design meets dignity.
A machine that works for everyone — not despite disability, but because of thoughtful design.
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