Carol Sloan has worked with Karen Collins from Naturally Useful on the co-creation of her greave
Scott Gleed, from Gleed 3D at work on a cold cast greave for Caitlin McMullan
Caitlin and Scott in a co-design workshop
All Photos Jeroen Blom, The Glasgow
School of Art
The Glasgow School of Art has been leading a
unique project with artisans and people with lower limb prostheses in the
Highlands and Islands it was revealed today, 21 August 2017. Jeroen Blom, a researcher
based at the GSA’s Highlands and Islands campus, and an expert in co-design,
has brought together three local artisans – Karen Collins, from Naturally Useful in Rafford, Scott
Gleed, from Gleed 3D in Relugas and Roger Milton, from Auldearn Antiques in
Auldearn – with three people – Carol Sloan, Caitlin McMullan and Chema Perez – who
all use a lower limb prosthesis to co-design personalised prosthetic greaves.
unique project with artisans and people with lower limb prostheses in the
Highlands and Islands it was revealed today, 21 August 2017. Jeroen Blom, a researcher
based at the GSA’s Highlands and Islands campus, and an expert in co-design,
has brought together three local artisans – Karen Collins, from Naturally Useful in Rafford, Scott
Gleed, from Gleed 3D in Relugas and Roger Milton, from Auldearn Antiques in
Auldearn – with three people – Carol Sloan, Caitlin McMullan and Chema Perez – who
all use a lower limb prosthesis to co-design personalised prosthetic greaves.
The project began when the partners were
brought together for workshops on co-design which were led by Jeroen Blom. In
collaboration with the artisans, Jeroen then developed template models for them
to apply their specialist skills to the challenge of creating the greaves as
well as a creative process to arrive a wearable limb design. The artisans then
went on to collaborate fully with the amputees on the designing of the greaves,
and, in the case of Karin Collins and Carol, in the actual making method of the
greave.
brought together for workshops on co-design which were led by Jeroen Blom. In
collaboration with the artisans, Jeroen then developed template models for them
to apply their specialist skills to the challenge of creating the greaves as
well as a creative process to arrive a wearable limb design. The artisans then
went on to collaborate fully with the amputees on the designing of the greaves,
and, in the case of Karin Collins and Carol, in the actual making method of the
greave.
“Co-design
is an approach that involves the end user fully in the exploration and design
of the product or process so as to ensure maximum benefit,” explains Jeroen
Blom. “Through this project three lower limb
amputees have been able to have a full involvement in the creation of something
very personal and unique to them and in so doing had a much greater sense of
involvement and ownership.”
is an approach that involves the end user fully in the exploration and design
of the product or process so as to ensure maximum benefit,” explains Jeroen
Blom. “Through this project three lower limb
amputees have been able to have a full involvement in the creation of something
very personal and unique to them and in so doing had a much greater sense of
involvement and ownership.”
“For
the artisans meanwhile this has been an opportunity to apply and showcase their
skills in a new area and to create very special partnerships with their collaborators
in the co-design process. The aesthetics of the resulting greaves reflect the
identity of the amputee as well as the artisanal process.”
the artisans meanwhile this has been an opportunity to apply and showcase their
skills in a new area and to create very special partnerships with their collaborators
in the co-design process. The aesthetics of the resulting greaves reflect the
identity of the amputee as well as the artisanal process.”
The project has been a fascinating experience
for all the participants, but especially for Carol, Caitlin and Chema.
for all the participants, but especially for Carol, Caitlin and Chema.
“We
spoke a bit about my experience of being an amputee, and my experience of
before my amputation,” says Caitlin. It
was good to think about the design of that, and talk about how I think the
design is disability-awareness as well”
spoke a bit about my experience of being an amputee, and my experience of
before my amputation,” says Caitlin. It
was good to think about the design of that, and talk about how I think the
design is disability-awareness as well”
“I like having choice, I like changing
what my prosthesis would look like. I don’t like to cover it up,” she adds “I
don’t really see the point in trying to hide it. That’s what I like about this
project. It’s making something really nice out of a prosthesis.”
what my prosthesis would look like. I don’t like to cover it up,” she adds “I
don’t really see the point in trying to hide it. That’s what I like about this
project. It’s making something really nice out of a prosthesis.”
“We
got an understanding of where each other is coming from,” says
Carol. “And the same with the empathy
about our different things and the respect of nature. It helped, because it was
a wee bit of common ground to start with, and that’s important.”
got an understanding of where each other is coming from,” says
Carol. “And the same with the empathy
about our different things and the respect of nature. It helped, because it was
a wee bit of common ground to start with, and that’s important.”
“The
idea Roger had about having a piece of wood which is not really nice and shiny but
something that has some marks of imperfection that tells you a story, was
something that I was looking for,’ says Chema. “Something that reflects my experience to make it more personal.”
idea Roger had about having a piece of wood which is not really nice and shiny but
something that has some marks of imperfection that tells you a story, was
something that I was looking for,’ says Chema. “Something that reflects my experience to make it more personal.”
“Like Caitlin I feel that, when
wearing a prosthesis people pity you because of your condition or they see you
as a super-hero. But what happens in between? I didn’t think about that before.
There are a lot of people who do not want to be pitied, don’t feel like going
to be a super-hero. So, I feel there are a lot of people who could be perfect
for this project in the long term,” he adds.
wearing a prosthesis people pity you because of your condition or they see you
as a super-hero. But what happens in between? I didn’t think about that before.
There are a lot of people who do not want to be pitied, don’t feel like going
to be a super-hero. So, I feel there are a lot of people who could be perfect
for this project in the long term,” he adds.
The greaves will officially be handed over at
an event on the evening of 23 August at the GSA’s Highlands and Islands campus
on the Altyre Estate. An exhibition about the project will be on show in the
Reid Building at The Glasgow School of Art from 14 – 29 October 2017.
an event on the evening of 23 August at the GSA’s Highlands and Islands campus
on the Altyre Estate. An exhibition about the project will be on show in the
Reid Building at The Glasgow School of Art from 14 – 29 October 2017.
Ends
For
further information and images contact:
further information and images contact:
Lesley
Booth,
Booth,
07799414474
@GSofAMedia