The Keywing is a simple, innovative and thoughtfully designed product that clips onto keys. Once in place, it creates a larger surface area and longer lever, making keys easier to hold, grasp and turn, and locks much easier to open.
Winner of the Design Council Spark Award and a £65,000 investment from charity Versus
Arthritis, the Keywing is being released on the 27th March Retailing from £4.99 , helping millions with reduced dexterity to open doors and regain independence.
Keywing design by Geoff Rolandsen
The Keywing has been designed by Australian born, London-based designer Geoff Rolandsen.
Geoff witnessed his father living with deteriorating dexterity in Australia and the challenges
that it brings to his everyday life. Inspired when his father struggled to unlock his shed, and
determined to make a difference to his life, Geoff set out to design a beautiful, desirable product
that could help restore independence to his father and the 10 million people in the UK who live
with arthritis and reduced dexterity.
“It was incredibly frustrating to know that a task as simple as opening the front door, is such a challenge to so many people” says Rolandsen.
The Keywing design has been tested and refined over the past 18 months with hands on testing
undertaken by Versus Arthritis supporters across the UK. It is launching in March 2019 at
www.theKeywing.com and a full national retail launch is under discussion.
User testing responses have been incredible, with 90% of people saying it significantly helped
them to use their keys with ease, and would make a welcomed difference to their day-to-day
lives.
Sarah Odoi, IP development manager at Versus Arthritis, comments:
“There over 10 million people in the UK living with the pain and fatigue of arthritis. That’s
one in six people. Many struggle with everyday activities that we take for granted, like
getting dressed in the morning or turning the key in a lock. That’s why products, like the
Keywing, are essential in helping people to stay in control of their own lives, without the fear
that they can’t unlock the door to their home.“As a charity we support innovative designers, like Geoff, to make everyday products that
not only help people with arthritis to maintain their independence but that are appealing to
eye – many people are put off from using clunky ‘aids’. It’s been fantastic to work with Geoff
and the Design Council, and help the idea come to life.”“I’ve been blown away by the feedback from users saying how this product has made such a
difference to their lives,” Rolandsen adds. “Enabling them to leave their house with confidence that they won’t struggle to unlock their front door upon return is the biggest reward for me.”
Causes of reduced hand dexterity
Reduced hand dexterity has a vast range of causes and is impacting a growing portion of society with research from Versus Arthritis showing that nearly half (44%) of sufferers have difficulty moving around independently. Pain and difficulty undertaking daily tasks, such as locking and unlocking doors, is a key contributing factor to this alarming statistic.
Dr Anna Lowe, a chartered physiotherapist, believes The Keywing could play a key role in
making these challenges easier to manage for people with reduced dexterity.
“As a physiotherapist I’ve worked with many people with reduced dexterity associated with
conditions including arthritis and long-term neurological conditions where keys and locks
present a particular challenge because of the manual dexterity and strength required.”“The Keywing is a neat little device and could help to give individuals and their families and
carers confidence and peace of mind and could make the difference between someone
needing help to get in or out of their own home and being able to do it independently.”
It is not only arthritis sufferers who will benefit from the Keywing. Feedback shows that it can
also make a positive impact for the 17 million people who live with a musculoskeletal
condition in the UK2 (around 28.9% of the population) and those with deteriorating hand
strength caused by ageing.
Visit www.theKeywing.com to get your hands on the Keywing and keep informed of new
innovative products being released in the future.
