IRONWELL — Nathan Weber

Designing for healthier lives and cherished experiences

Utilizing attention to detail and empathy, I create solutions for neglected problems with the aim of improving people's long-term wellness or fostering joyful moments by leveraging the newest technology.

Retrieval-Assisted Weight Tree

people working out at gyms at least 2-3 times every week

percentage of all exercises performed which use free weights

Weight Tree Anatomy

center column

4-8 posts

supporting base

Weight Trees Put Millions at Risk

How can the weight plate tree be redesigned to remove the need for complex squatting technique, allowing all gym goers to acquire and store weight plates safely regardless their of strength, mobility, or training?

Only 2 out of 72 gym goers used proper form that would protect the back from injury.

Squatting Step by Step

“The problem is, setting up to execute proper form every time you step away and come back to the tree is beyond tedious, so we move quick and settle on dealing with the long term damage later."

Expert Interview

Professional Guidance

Talking with experts provided invaluable insights which highlighted the importance of a new product, as well as showing how incorporating new features that rely on guidance alone may not be enough to solve the problem.

Andrew R. Naylor

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Joey Stimler

Andrew R. Naylor, DPT

“Back related aches and pains associated with previous injuries and general breakdown with age are incredibly common, making activities like using free weights especially challenging for many of my patients.”

Doctor of Physical Therapy

“Engaging in strenuous physical activity when fatigued is actually a big concern for risk prevention. The techniques and coordination that someone learns to keep themselves safe breaks down with fatigue which introduces a serious risk when they aren’t respecting the strain of moving heavy objects.”

Michael Moore

Powerlifting Coach & Gym Co-Owner

“Training someone how to start squatting isn’t too hard when just trying to get them going, but It still takes months of practice with guidance for someone to start engaging all the correct muscles and following the all the cues that will keep them safe long term. Many people just never quite get there even with training.”

10 Hours in Person // 4 Facilities // 72 Distinct Users

Heavier 45lb and 25lb plates always stored below the lighter weights

Equipment Usage Trends

The younger the age group the worse the form

Common for users to be in the most compromised portion of the movement for 2-3

Indicated it wasnt uncommon for them to use improper form

Claimed having felt demotivated knowing they’d have to move plates

Claimed the lower poles are too low to the ground

*67 Respondents

Lower lumbar herniated discs make movements as simple as walking or sitting up excruciating, resulting in a severely handicapped lifestyle.

Repeated strain eventually leads to permanent injury

Herniated discs cause permanent damage and often at best only go into remission leading to a more likely re-injury in the future

Solution Pathways

Starting the design process, specific categories of product characteristics were identified to guide future concepts towards viable solutions such as plate arrangement, spatial footprint, and passive vs active mechanics.

Hydraulic Core

Different layouts for the internals were created to accommodate a hydraulic jack and the necessary force translation components that would connect to the worm and worm gear which drive the lift disc.