Functional and beautiful mobility products with aging in mind

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Turn reflection into action

In March 2022, amidst a global economic slowdown, Kaly Ryan launched Vancouver-based Capella Design. Ryan is an industrial designer and previously co-founded the design company Willow & Stump.

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Capella is the result of Ryan taking the time to reflect on what he really wanted to do with his design and manufacturing talents. Her thoughts go back to the efforts her parents made to remodel her grandfather's house in the '80s and her '90s. He could stay there as long as possible. He lived in his home until he was 95 years old.

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It was then, and still is, difficult to find functional, good-looking, modern and aesthetically pleasing products to assist with your at-home mobility needs.

Many mobility products, while functional, are downright depressing to look at, Ryan says, and people don't really want to have them in their homes.

Ryan also thought about his mother, who is now in her 70s and wants to stay in her home for as long as possible.

Ryan's mother is part of a small number of people (about 10 percent of the U.S. population, according to a recent Forbes article) who are preparing to retire at home. Interestingly, a recent survey by the Canadian Medical Association and the National Institute on Aging found that “96 per cent of Canadians want to age at home and live independently for as long as possible.” Ryan says.

“So there's a huge gap between people who want it and people who are ready for it,” she says.

Before launching Capella Design, Ryan had experience designing health-related products. He participated in the design of Willow & Stump, a park where he created a lamp to help people with Seasonal Affective Disorder.

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shower seat instead of bench

It took Ryan two years to create Capella's Rotic Shower Seat. She researched shower chairs and shower benches and was driven by her desire to redesign this unattractive product.

“Realistically, you and I might need a shower stool tomorrow if we tripped and hurt ourselves. It's fine to have this kind of mobility product in the house, but it's very ugly and People don't want to have them in their homes. They don't necessarily make them feel good about themselves,” she says.

Capella shower seats are made from a “solid surface” called Hymac, a stone-like material that looks and feels like stone but is not porous.

The stool's slats are made from a composite decking material made from recycled plastic made by “a large Canadian company called NewTechWood,” Ryan said. “You're basically sitting on a pop bottle that looks and feels like wood.”

In mobility design, Ryan explains, there's a big difference between following a code and considering how people actually use a space (such as a washroom). Some hotel rooms have showers with bench seats that meet regulations, but you can't actually reach the shower controls while sitting on the bench.

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“That’s one of the reasons we built stools instead of benches.”

Design is moving in a mobility-friendly direction

Lipless walk-in showers are Ryan's favorite trend because they're easier for people to access, she says.

Color contrast is not often considered, but in completely white or gray bathrooms, it can be difficult for people with vision problems to distinguish between the floor and walls.

“I can't see anything when I take off my glasses when I take a shower.''

Capella has prototyped a great-looking side table with an adjustable tray called the Corbel. This design was selected as a finalist in WL (Western Living) Design 25.

“It's an adjustable side table that you can place next to your bed or sofa and adjust it up or down or swing out. It's a modern take on a TV tray,” says Ryan. If you're FaceTiming someone or a book, you can use it to rest your plate, coffee, or iPad. “Winning awards related to accessible furniture design ensures that these products are seen as beautiful, functional furniture, rather than left behind in mobility stores where no one wants to go. It is significant because it helps us become.”

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Capella is also prototyping picture frames with grab bars and a more “stable mug option” for people with hand movement issues.

This mug has a larger handle, a more stable base, and is made from a lighter material, making it easier to hold,” says Ryan. She added that the design is very noble for a mug. In terms of design, this means it looks good. She commissioned a prototype from ceramicist Grace Lee of Eikcam Ceramics.

“We’re really excited to get it into the hands of people who will use it and test it,” Ryan says.

There's nothing about us without us

Ryan says designing for people with limited mobility requires putting the people designing the product at the center.

She says she is not an expert in mobility design. She is an expert at listening and responding to what people have to say.

“The key is to ensure that people who have experienced disability are at the center of creating solutions.”

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