Awards honour designs that could transform lives of arthritis sufferers

DESIGNS for a rotating door handle, an easy-to-grip carton and a bizarre kettle-mug hybrid have been lauded for their potential to improve the lives of the country’s 40,000 rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.

The products were among a list of new inventions detailed at Arthritis Ireland’s first annual Easy To Use design awards yesterday.

Open to third-year industrial design students at the National College of Art and Design, the competition encouraged the creation of equipment to help those with the debilitating condition to perform their daily tasks.

Among the most impressive designs put forward was the “Kug” — a kettle-mug hybrid named the unanimous winner by a judging panel that included Dragons Den entrepreneur Sean Gallagher.

The product, designed by Alan Harrison and Ben Millet from Mayo and Roscommon, is designed to remove the need for a kettle, which the students said is “impractical for use for people living with arthritis”.

Other products recommended for future development were a door handle designed to eliminate wrist rotation, an “Easicote” nail polish applicator with enhanced grip and control, and the “Duo-Tap”, which acts as an easy-to-grip alternative to drinks cartons.

Reacting to the standard of designs, Mr Gallagher said he and Insomnia owner Bobby Kerr were already in discussions about developing the “Kug” for the market.

Arthritis Ireland chief executive John Church said the designs had the potential to change people’s lives.

The award winners were revealed as a new survey found that four out of five rheumatoid arthritis sufferers say the condition impacts heavily on their lives.

According to the survey, conducted by Arthritis Ireland through an Ipsos MRBI poll of 300 people with the condition, more than three out of five sufferers believe the illness puts a strain on their mental health and relationships.

Four out of five said daily household tasks were particularly difficult.

However, half said they were either reluctant to seek out special aids at work or purchase specially adapted products because they would draw attention to their condition.

Those working outside their homes said seating arrangements at work were the most challenging aspect of their jobs.

A further three out of five said the one issue that would have the most positive impact on their lives would be a wider range of adapted products for every day activities.