2-in-1 Stylus Marker for Fine Motor Disabilities

Objective: Designed a handheld device to support children with fine motor and attention issues learn and practice handwriting.

Requirements: Create a single-handed, easy-to-grip solution that integrates both a marker and a capacitive stylus tip, minimizing tool-switching effort and supporting both paper and touchscreen use.

Top Skills: user research, assistive device design, low-fidelity prototyping, CAD design (SolidWorks), iterative testing

Overview

This project consistuted the second half of the Design Thinking & Communication (DTC) course in partnership with the TrueNorth Educational Cooperative. Our client works with children who have motor and attention disabilities, where switching between a stylus for apps and a pencil for handwriting often disrupted focus. We aimed to create a unified tool to support smoother transitions and sustained engagement.

Design Process

• User Interviews: Conducted in-person observations and interviews to understand daily tool-use frustrations

• Problem Identification: Tool switching required two hands and caused frequent interruptions during creative sessions

• Design Criteria: Must be operable with one hand, easy to grip, safe, durable, and functional on both surfaces

• Prototyping: Created several low-fidelity prototypes using wood and plastic.

• Final Concept: A combined marker and stylus with an ergonomic handle shaped for limited dexterity and a twist or slide mechanism to swap between tips

Features

• Non-slip, contoured grip designed for shaky or weak hands

• Capacitive stylus tip compatible with iPads and other tablets

• Broad marker tip for paper drawing and writing

• One-handed operation

• Modular and low-cost design for future replication

Key Takeaways

This project helped me apply human-centered design in a real-world context with meaningful impact. It deepened my understanding of inclusive design and the importance of involving users throughout the engineering process. It also taught me how empathy and iteration lead to practical, empowering solutions.

Through many difficulties in design iterations, we ended up settling for efficiency in manufacturing and usage.