AL SIGL’S LIVEABILITY LAB
LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO LIFE’S OPPORTUNITIES
How It Works
Discovering Needs
Ideation
Real World Testing
WHY LIVEABILITY “LAB”?
THIS COLLABORATION WAS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP AND TEST THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY INSPIRED BY THE COMMUNITY
IN THE COMMUNITY
Real World Impact
The founders of ThermApparel cooling vests were industrial design graduate students from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Through this collaboration, they visited different Al Sigl Member Agency programs and events, including a peer-support group hosted by the National MS Society meeting on a particularly hot July evening.
Light attendance was linked to how many people living with MS leave the house less often in the summer due to heat sensitivity. At that meeting, the students learned that the existing products on the market did not meet the top criteria of people with heat sensitivity caused by health conditions – concealable, lightweight, and comfortable.
Over the next few years, the students conducted more than 200 customer discovery interviews, and created more than 50 prototypes. Today, ThermApparel’s UnderCool products have been sold in all 50 states and 20+ countries.
Fostering Inclusion
Theresa’s Transitions Program serves young adults with special needs working on social and life skills and getting ready for future plans after high school. Theresa’s class met with a team working on safer and easier to hold kitchenware designs as part of our Discovery Program.
“My students were fascinated by the tools that were designed, almost specifically, to meet their needs. There are many barriers that often prevent them from navigating a kitchen. I am so appreciative to give these students this opportunity.” – Theresa
