Cover thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at Young V&A
Design Gallery, Designing for Change section 2, Case 5

Cover

2023 (Manufactured), 2018 (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, 'Black Panther', Open Bionics and Disney, designed 2018 and manufactured 2023 (Bristol, UK), laser-sintered Nylon 12
Physical description
Three black covers for a child's bionic arm inspired by Marvel superhero Black Panther. The covers are 3D printed in a sunken geometric pattern, with raised claw motifs painted in gold. The inner arm cover has a hole to accomodate the Hero Arm's fit adjustment dial, and is stamped with a geometric render of a panther's face. The outer arm cover is stamped with the Marvel logo. The smaller hand cover has a hole to accomodate the Hero Arm's function button.
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
  • 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.(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.(31/06/2023)
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.73-2023

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Record createdMarch 2, 2023
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