A collaborative course between Shenkar and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia centered on "Design and Engineering Solutions for Young Patients Suffering from FOP
This international and interdisciplinary course engaged teams of students from Shenkar's Design and Engineering faculties, along with participants from Meir Medical Center, Industrial Design Master students and Ph.D occupational therapy students at Jefferson University and members of the 'TOM - Tikkun Olam Makers' organization. The course was led by Dr. Asaf Krebs, a partner manager at Shenkar Design Factory and was supported by Shenkar International school.
Throughout the course, students developed assistive devices for children affected by the rare FOP syndrome, a condition causing connective tissues in the body, such as tendons and ligaments, to ossify. Employing the Human-Centered Design methodology and the 'Frugal Innovation' approach, the emphasis was on creating accessible and cost-effective solutions that could be easily replicated for patients worldwide.
The solutions were shared as open-source on the TOM online platform for global patient use, adding a meaningful social dimension to the initiative, which was both innovative and design-oriented. Upon completion of the course, the objects were delivered for practical use by the children.