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Cover

2023 (Manufactured), 2015 (Designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Hero Arm is a 3D printed, below elbow prosthesis with interchangable covers. This set of fantasy covers is one of several in the museum's collection, collected to reflect the extensive collection of interchangable covers produced for the Hero Arm, which are central to its appeal to children and adults alike.

The design decision to give the Hero Arm a wide range of interchangable covers was made after consultation sessions with children and young people. Early in the development of the Hero Arm, Open Bionics founders Samantha and Joel invited a group of children and young people with limb differences to feedback on prototypes, and to explore what their dream bionic limb would look and feel like. The children and young people consulted indicated that they did not want to hide their limb difference with a lifelike prosthetic but would rather celebrate it with something fantastical. Live sketches of the co-design process record young users of prosthetic limbs dreaming of fingers containing lipstick, the power of robot super strength, or a completely customisable arm that they could theme along their favourite colours, films and books. The children's playful, proud and imaginative approach to their dream limb directly informed the aesthetic design of the Hero Arm, with a new emphasis placed on the bionic 'superhero' aesthetic and movement of the arm, and a range of fanstistical customisable covers, including collaborations with 20TH Century Fox and Disney (including the Marvel, Star Wars and Frozen franchises). As such, these covers are an example of child-centred design and the creative potential of involving children in the design process.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Cover for 'Hero Arm' bionic arm, 'Iron Man', Open Bionics and Disney, designed 2015 and manufactured 2023 (Bristol, UK), laser-sintered Nylon 12
Physical description
Three red covers for a child's bionic arm inspired by Marvel superhero Iron Man. The covers are 3D printed with sunken lines painted burgundy, to resemble the metal plates of Iron Man's suit. The inner arm cover has a hole to accomodate the Hero Arm's fit adjustment dial, and is stamped with the Marvel logo. The outer arm cover is stamped with a drawing of Iron Man's face. The smaller hand cover has a hole to accomodate the Hero Arm's function button, and is decorated with a gold band.
Dimensions
  • Hand cover height: 87mm
  • Hand cover width: 85mm
  • Hand cover depth: 45mm
  • Both arm covers height: 230mm
  • Both arm covers width: 93mm
  • Both arm covers depth: 60mm
Production typeMass produced
Gallery label
(31/06/2023)
Standing out, not blending in

Open Bionics listened to young people describe wanting to celebrate their limb differences and likening the bionic arm’s capabilities to having superpowers.

This led to a system of customisable covers that can be quickly and easily interchanged.

1 Disney covers
Designer: Open Bionics and Disney
Date: 2018–22
Location: England
Materials: 3D-printed plastic
Museum nos. B.72 to 75-2023

2 Deus Ex cover
Designer: Open Bionics and Embracer Group AB
Date: 2017
Location: England
Materials: 3D-printed plastic
Museum no. B.76-2023

[Young V&A, Design Gallery, Design responds to our needs, group object label]
(31/06/2023)
Hero Arm

A customisable alternative to expensive and ill-fitting standard prosthetic arms.

Young people with limb differences visited Open Bionics’ studio to imagine their ultimate prostheses. Together, they came up with a relatively cheap 3D-printed robotic arm, with interchangeable covers for wearers to express their style.

[Young V&A, Design Gallery, Design responds to our needs, subsection panel]
Summary
The Hero Arm is a 3D printed, below elbow prosthesis with interchangable covers. This set of fantasy covers is one of several in the museum's collection, collected to reflect the extensive collection of interchangable covers produced for the Hero Arm, which are central to its appeal to children and adults alike.

The design decision to give the Hero Arm a wide range of interchangable covers was made after consultation sessions with children and young people. Early in the development of the Hero Arm, Open Bionics founders Samantha and Joel invited a group of children and young people with limb differences to feedback on prototypes, and to explore what their dream bionic limb would look and feel like. The children and young people consulted indicated that they did not want to hide their limb difference with a lifelike prosthetic but would rather celebrate it with something fantastical. Live sketches of the co-design process record young users of prosthetic limbs dreaming of fingers containing lipstick, the power of robot super strength, or a completely customisable arm that they could theme along their favourite colours, films and books. The children's playful, proud and imaginative approach to their dream limb directly informed the aesthetic design of the Hero Arm, with a new emphasis placed on the bionic 'superhero' aesthetic and movement of the arm, and a range of fanstistical customisable covers, including collaborations with 20TH Century Fox and Disney (including the Marvel, Star Wars and Frozen franchises). As such, these covers are an example of child-centred design and the creative potential of involving children in the design process.
Collection
Accession number
B.75-2023

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Record createdMarch 2, 2023
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