Third Year | Semester 2
PlayAble
Use additive manufacturing to design a specialised product for a specific user group.
Arthritis can cause pain, stiffness and reduced grip strength, it can make playing guitar uncomfortable or difficult. This can prevent people from continuing an activity they enjoy, despite the positive effects music can have on creativity, social connection and mental wellbeing.
I researched existing guitar aids, comparing their design, functionality, adjustability and cost. This highlighted an opportunity to use 3D printing to create a more personalised solution that reduces strain and makes playing more comfortable.
Design Process
-
![]()
Sketch
This helped visualise the different ways the guitar aid could be used, allowing us to explore how many chords could still be played while keeping the components interchangeable.
-
![]()
Prototype
Multiple prototypes were created to find the best contact point with the guitar, while testing different designs to achieve comfortable use and the clearest possible notes.
-
![]()
Testing
I reached out to nursing homes online and gained consent to test the product with users. This provided valuable feedback on the design, comfort and ease of use, helping us identify areas for improvement.
-
![]()
Final
The final design successfully combined interchangeable components with a comfortable fit, allowing users to play a wider range of chords while still producing clear, good-quality notes.
Final design
The final design is an interchangeable guitar aid designed to make playing more comfortable and accessible for people with arthritis. The interchangeable keys allow the aid to be adapted to different users and levels of grip strength, recognising that every case of arthritis is different. Through prototyping, empathetic modelling and focus group feedback, the shape was refined using, ergonomics and functionality to create a solution that reduces strain while allowing users to continue enjoying an activity that can support creativity, connection and mental wellbeing.
The final design demonstrates how 3D printing can be used to create a personalised, user-focused product that would be difficult to achieve through traditional manufacturing.