andrew slorance reinvents the wheelchair out of carbon fiber

andrew slorance reinvents the wheelchair out of carbon fiber
all images courtesy of andrew slorance

after suffering a spinal injury at the age of 14, andrew slorance decided that he would one day reinvent the wheelchair. after years of waiting for a revolution that never happened, andrew took matters into his own hands and set out to fulfill this dream by manufacturing a vehicle that would be as much about its design as its practicality. ‘I felt that wheelchairs were horrible medical devices, and couldn’t understand why companies didn’t advance their wheelchairs in the same way bike companies did with their products,’ says slorance. eventually, ‘carbon black‘ was born to change perceptions and advance the typical construction and aesthetic of its predecessors.

the design offers an optional LED system that clearly lights the path ahead for safe and confident night time travel

made by F1 engineers with durable materials, slorance aimed at reaching the active, independent user to whom style matters as much as functionality. as a result, carbon fiber was selected for the primary structure, as the chair had to be minimal and lightweight, as well as being robust enough for everyday use.

the full carbon fiber wheels are beautiful to look at and use 

the aesthetic is the result of a construction system built to enhance life as a wheelchair user. the ease of use principles in the project were then combined with the engineering requirements of the woven fabric. the monocoque-based structure can be tailored to bespoke measurements, maximizing strength while using the least amount of components possible.

the ‘carbon black’ logo shows the motion of hands pushing the chair

the unique brake system locks the hub of the wheel 

the slight curve encourages a natural, comfortable resting place for the legs

the components laid out

the construction is light and efficient

the minimalist backrest is adjustable for users of all ages and body types

the chair is compact when dismantled

finite element analysis is used to create the strongest, stiffest chair possible

every chair is handmade by expert engineers

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.