Designing assistive equipment for emerging para-athletes

Overview

This project investigates the design of assistive sporting equipment for emerging boccia and lawn bowls para-athletes. Students will engage in an end-to-end practice-led design research project grounded in human-centred and participatory design approaches to design functional assistive equipment to support the performance of para-athletes. While the work will focus on the personalisation of equipment for the participating athletes, the project will also explore the transferability of designs to the broader sporting community. For this purpose, the project will engage with Sporting Wheelies Disabled Sports Association and their community.

Research engagement

The project is situated within the areas of participatory design, assistive technology development, and practice-led design research. As a practice-led design research project, students will gain experience integrating empirical inquiry with applied design methods, where design activity operates as a primary means of knowledge generation. Students will engage in design and research activities that span literature review, co-design, concept development, iterative prototyping, and user testing. These activities will support the translation of empirical insights into design propositions and enable exploration of user requirements and functional design outcomes for para-athletes.

Research activities

Students will participate in a structured program of research and design activities, working alongside academic researchers and with para-athlete participants engaged in boccia and lawn bowls at key stages of the project.

Key activities include:

• Conducting literature review on participatory design, assistive technology, and adaptive sports equipment;
• Supporting co-design sessions with para-athletes, both in-person and online;
• Translating co-design outcomes into user requirements and design concept directions;
• Developing design concepts through sketching, computer-aided design (CAD), and iterative prototyping;
• Fabricating prototypes using digital fabrication processes (3D printing, laser cutting, and/or textile-based construction where relevant);
• Supporting user testing sessions and documenting observational data;
• Maintaining systematic documentation of design and research processes;

Contributing to reflective and analytical writing towards a case study publication.

Research skills

Students will develop a broad set of practice-led research and design skills, including:

• Academic literature retrieval, synthesis, and critical review;
• Application of user-centred and participatory design methodologies;
• Conduct of co-design workshops with end users in applied settings;
• Qualitative observational research during prototype evaluation and user testing;
• Iterative design development using computer-aided design (CAD) software (e.g., SolidWorks or Fusion);
• Digital fabrication and prototyping techniques, including additive manufacturing and related workshop processes;
• Academic case study writing;
• Reflective practice within a design research framework.

Outcomes

The project aims to generate both tangible design outcomes and traditional research outputs. Expected outcomes include:

• Functional prototypes of assistive sporting equipment tailored to boccia and lawn bowls contexts;
• Empirical insights into co-design processes with para-athletes and the translation of user requirements into design solutions;
• A systematically documented practice-led design research case study;
• Contribution to a draft manuscript that will be developed for submission to a peer-reviewed journal;
• Understanding of participatory design approaches within adaptive sport and accessibility contexts.

Skills and experience

Applicants are expected to demonstrate foundational capability in design research and applied design practice, with the capacity to engage in iterative, collaborative project work.

Required capabilities:

• Interest in participatory design, design for disability and accessibility, and assistive technology innovation;
• Ability to conduct academic literature searches and engage with scholarly material;
• Experience with concept development and prototyping within a design context;
• Experience with computer-aided design (CAD) software (SolidWorks or Fusion);
• Familiarity with digital fabrication methods (e.g., 3D printing, laser cutting);
• Strong communication and collaborative skills suitable for participatory research environments.

Desirable capabilities:

• Experience with textile-based fabrication or soft goods design;

While experience in the areas outlined above is advantageous, emphasis is placed on willingness to engage with interdisciplinary research and develop skills through practice.

Start date

2 November, 2026

End date

19 February, 2027

Location

QUT Kelvin Grove Campus

Additional information

Students will have access to the Kelvin Grove Workshop and Digital Fabrication spaces during the project for design and prototype development.

Keywords

• Assistive Technology
• Para-Sport
• Industrial Design
• User-Centred Design
• Participatory Design
• Prototyping

Contact

Levi Swann

0731387657

levi.swann@qut.edu.au