Movu – mobility support in everyday life
Movu is an innovative, foldable three-wheeler for anyone who needs a little support when walking. The product can be used regardless of age and functional ability for practical errands in everyday life, for training and rehabilitation. Movu ensures freedom of independent movement, without stigma.
Company: Movu Mobility
Design: Movu Mobility
Collaborators: Sunnaas Sykehus, Arba
Lead users:
20–90 years old, able-bodied people and people with MS, stroke patients and prosthetic users, in addition to professional groups such as healthcare personnel and designers.
Methods:
Interviews, user testing, observations and age simulation suit
Awards:
Innovation Award for Inclusive Design 2023, category winner Product Design.
97
out of 100 test users put themselves on the purchase list for a new Movu.
Challenge: Breaking down stigma
Movu is a foldable three-wheeler with a number of smart functions. The stylish Vespa-like design makes a positive impact on the street scene. Most important of all, it fills a big gap in the market.
Due to stigma, many people with impaired functional ability, young and old alike, are isolated by their reluctance to use a walker. NAV (Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration) provided 44.000 walkers in 2022. The need is estimated to be around 200.000. Only 22 % accept the offer that they need, and which is free of charge. Also, ordinary walkers are not suitable for rehabilitation after, for example, knee operations or amputations. The use of crutches in these cases may also lead to other strain injuries. Lack of the necessary support can cause falls and strain injuries, and musculoskeletal disorders alone cost society NOK 255 billion. An aging population challenges us to think anew.
Movu adressed the obvious problem of why so many people refuse to use a walker – which is, after all, free – and instead choose to stay at home during periods when they need this type of product. It does not help to get mobility aids free from NAV if people do not want to use them.
Approach: A product for all
Movu set a vision of contributing to a more inclusive society. This was to be achieved through promoting positive values such as "age-neutral", "sporty", "modern" and "customised" in the development of a product that both young people, adults and the elderly would want to use.
They were not aiming to compete with walkers, but to develop a universal mobility support for everyday life for anyone who needs to move, regardless of functional variations. This is Movu’s unique starting point.
Nevertheless, a key user group for Movu are those who have injuries or illnesses that cause them to be isolated at home or in an institution. With a sporty and smart design, the stigma was to be broken down, and thus get more people out on daily trips and training. It contributes to better health, both psychologically and physically.
The jury is taken with the delightful Mjøsparken – a beautiful, vibrant and species-rich meeting point for the local population. It has become an inclusive people’s park and is an excellent local development for the Brumunddal of the future.
Result: Something for everyone
The formerly inaccessible area between the E6 and Lake Mjøsa has been metamorphosed into an oasis by the water. The formerly inaccessible lakeshore has been transformed into a shallow, sandy-beached bathing lagoon. The beach is universally designed – with equal use for all in mind – and features a swimming rig, barbecue areas and various sitting options.
Access to the beach area for persons with impaired functional ability is via a cast ramp. Physical access to the water is via another ramp leading to a swimming rig in the middle of the lagoon. This is perceived to be a safe configuration for persons with impaired functional ability, elderly people looking for extra security and a great hit with younger children. The area is otherwise clearly laid out with pushchair-friendly gravel and the furniture is suitable for wheelchair users with extended table-tops and armrests installed on benches to provide a comfortable sitting position.
The sensory garden is great for dementia care to rekindle old memories. It is built up with a wealth of traditional perennials such as geraniums and bergenias and profusely flowering, sweet-smelling plants such as lilacs, roses and magnolias, thoughtfully arranged in respect of colour, fragrance and memories. There are level promenades and pathways, an extensive selection of inclusive seating options, lush vegetation and areas offering both sun and shadow, as well as activity areas with skateboard parks for anyone of any level who want to explore their skateboard, cycle, scooter or wheelchair skills. The park features petanque, basketball and sand volleyball courts, a playground, dog park and separate watering posts for our four-legged friends. In the summer, there is an outdoor restaurant with views over Lake Mjøsa.
The park facilities are designed for all in terms of accessibility, inclusion and a feeling of security around the clock. The conscious choice of surfaces and edges, basic lighting and special lighting, makes it easy to maintain an overview. Here is space enough for activity or relaxation for people of all ages.
Mjøsparken encourages you to pursue your own interests or find activities to share with your family and friends. The very fact that there is something for everyone and one can relate to Lake Mjøsa in many different ways creates an inclusive whole.
In wintertime, the basketball court is converted into a skating rink and becomes an arena for completely new experiences. The most important routes and pathways are cleared of snow and visitors on wheels or on foot are welcomed to the park in its winter cloak.
Vipps is more than just an app. It is a service that has made my daily tasks a lot more convenient and easier as a blind person.
Healthy and free
Social sustainability describes the enormous value Mjøsparken provides. Being both outdoors and outside the city centre, Mjøsparken is an important physical and social supplement for getting people active. Increased public health has been one of the goals, and this has now been made possible in an attractive, safe, universally designed environment.
One important design element is safe, universally designed access from Brumunddal town centre and the E6 for pedestrians and other visitors on two or four wheels, as well as from the marina, the new Skibladner jetty and Mjøstårnet.
Mjøsparken is a one-of-a-kind in terms of size and diversity. While there is space enough for everyone, it is still possible to find one’s own private place in the middle of the larger social context.
Benefits: Allow plenty of time for concept development
Multi-faceted Mjøsparken has been a great success as a people’s park, offering various activities to many different groups within the population. It connects the town of Brumunddal to the attractive beaches alongside the Lake Mjøsa shoreline despite the fact that the dual carriageway of the E6 lies between.
To create something on the scale of Mjøsparken takes time. It requires a reliable client and excellent cooperation throughout the entire process. That is why it has been so valuable to the project that the municipality has remained true to its vision. In the years it took to develop the park, responsibility for the project within the municipality has been placed in various hands, but the clear guidelines have at all times allowed the project to progress in the right direction.
Local development as a strategy for increased pride and attractiveness for Brumunddal and the wider municipality has really been brought to life in Mjøsparken. This is an exciting project that provides great value for a wide range of people and needs. It is also an important contributor towards encouraging relocation to and business development in the area, and a role model project for many municipalities and cities.