tom project
2019
Team Project
72-hour Makeathon, Tikkun Olam Makers
Service: Inclusive Design | Rapid Prototyping | HCD |
Modular Engineering | Wood & Metal Work
In March 2019, I participated in a 72-hour makeathon organized by TOM (Tikkun Olam Makers) at the American College of Sofia. Working in team Phoenix, I co-designed and constructed a portable lift platform for Ivan, a young actor with mobility challenges. The project addressed a specific daily struggle, Ivan’s inability to access theater stages in Bulgaria independently, a barrier that requires support from his colleagues or staff.
The resulting solution is a modular, three-part system featuring a wooden platform with integrated safety ramps, a collapsible metal support frame, and a motorised lifting engine. Designed for portability, the entire structure can be flat-packed and stored in a van, providing Ivan with a reliable way to navigate various theatre venues.
The lack of standardised wheelchair access to varying stage heights presents a significant functional obstacle in many performance and theatre spaces in Bulgaria.
This project proposes a solution for this problem by developing a compact, motorised lift system that operates independently without adding permanent structural modifications to the space.
Wooden Platform
Steel Frame
Powering Engine
Portability
Lightweight Plywood Base:
Housing up to 90 / 100 kg
High-load Bearing Steel Frame: Telescopic Tubing
Repurposed High-Torque Motorised Unit
Van-Ready Dimensions:
Flat-Pack Configuration
Safety Side Flaps
Adjustable Height
Synchronised Drive: Smooth Lift
Assembly Time: <1 min
Front & Rear Exit Ramps
Low-Friction Sleeve Inserts
Mechanical Stop
Side Frame Handles
Flat-Packed
Telescopic
Modular
Motorized
Bespoke
Scalable
Lightweight
72 hours isn't enough to fix the world, but it’s plenty of time to redesign a piece of it and make it more inclusive and friendly for someone else!