crutch-like lofstrand vacuum cleaner designed to reduce wrist injuries

over the past decade or so, many house appliance manufacturers have introduced wireless vaccum cleaners – just take dyson and vax for example. power and performance has increased whilst size and weight has reduced. this has meant that these domestic cleaning products are now small enough to hold and use in one hand. however, ja heon lee, south korean designer, disagrees and highlights some interesting ergonomic issues with these appliances. he states that, as their handles place the entire weight on the user’s wrist, it can lead to problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome. as such, he has designed a solution named the lofstrand vacuum cleaner or LVC for short, that aims to match the exceptional functionality of the wireless product with equally as good ergonomics.

image courtesy of ja heon lee

ja heon lee’s wireless vacuum cleaner design was inspired by the lofstrand crutch, which is widely recognized as the standard for mobility aids. using a similar structure, the LVC moves its handle position forward towards where its body and hose meets. this means that the product is supported by the user’s wrist and forearm when held. this distributes the weight more widely in order reduce the chance of wrist injuries. completely the concept, the designer has stylized the vacumm with a futuristic aesthetic that pairs feel-to-touch materials and colors.

project info:

designer: ja heon lee

product name: lofstrand vacuum cleaner or LVC

project status: concept