Solving Common Problems with Purposeful Design with Jeremy Knopow, Co-Founder of Motivo
Jeremy Knopow set out to fulfill a promise he made to his late father who was diagnosed with ALS to make products better for those needing them. As a successful product designer, he was embarrassed by the lack of form and function that dated walkers provided. After spending many years researching and talking with users of walkers, older adults, caregivers, physicians, physical therapists and many others- the Motivo Tour walker was created.
Today I interview Jeremy Knopow, Co-Founder of Motivo, a company that has brought forth change in the walker industry by bringing thoughtful design, functionality, dignity, and independence. As Jeremy mentions, "This industry has been engineering devices for medical conditions as opposed to designing products for people. Those are two very different things...".
We are encouraging families and older adults that use walkers or are looking to use the walkers that there is a better way. A bigger conversation takes place about why these products have not been reinvented for so long and the call to designers and creators to look at what can we do to reinvent products for older adults, and create new products to provide solutions to common problems. I can't wait to see what Jeremy and Motivo design next! Thank you, Jeremy, for being a changemaker and making our world better.
Jeremy shares about:
How his father's diagnosis of ALS moved Jeremy to create better products
What leads to walker use- mobility issues as we age, body mechanics, spine and body alignment, falls- how many people use walkers for assistance? What can we do? The reason behind all of the different features, encouragement to families and older adults that are resistant to walker use
Story of the original walker and the evolution of the walker industry
We talk about why these products haven't been re-designed until now
Modern Design- what’s the call to other designers as we look to reinvent products for older adults?
Payment systems and organizations, like the NFL, as they reimburse for Motivo
The future for Motivo
As a gift to our listeners- Motivo is giving $100 off your order- using the code WILLGATHER100
For more information and to place an order, visit https://www.buymotivo.com/
Jeremy Knopow is a Product Designer and Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years of Fortune 100 new product development experience at companies including Kohler, SC Johnson, Fiskars, and Procter and Gamble. In 2012 following his late father’s battle with ALS, Knopow co-founded Motivo, Inc. to reinvent the world of mobility aids.
Along the way, Knopow has also been highly engaged in applying his design skills to broader problems ranging from hot showers for 9/11 rescue workers, improving sanitation in the slums of Nairobi, to fighting Malaria in Ghana.
He has been a frequent guest lecturer on user-centered design and social entrepreneurship at numerous universities around the world, and is currently an Adjunct Prof. of Design at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters of Fine Arts in Industrial Design, both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as being named on over 170 patents.
For “fun” Jeremy enjoys running ultra-distance (50mi +) trail races, as well as spending time with his wife, two young children, and their two dogs at their home in Wisconsin, USA.
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We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.
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