Nini's bag

A co-design process between OpenDot designers and COALA Centre therapists developed a portable rehabilitation tool dedicated to people in need of neuro-psychomotor therapy.

Nini's magic bag is a portable rehabilitation gym produced in the OpenDot Fab Lab for children aged six months to 12 years at the Buzzi Children's Hospital in Milan. 

This is an easy-to-transport system on wheels equipped with components that are simple to assemble, and can be adjusted, washed and sanitised. A suitable and comfortable solution used for three posture exercises: lying, sitting, and standing.

The design challenge was to combine the necessary functions in an object that was versatile and easy-to-transport by one person. The idea was to create a "pop-up portable gym", which opens and closes, equipped with a folding telescopic table for tablet support, a structure for cognitive games, modular cushions and an adjustable, restraining seat.

Bringing motor therapy closer to people is not just about the final product. The key to innovation lies in the co-designing process, as the market does not meet all healthcare needs, and costs are often prohibitive. 

Although the pandemic worsened the rehabilitation care situation, by limiting travel, it reinforced the need to design a tailor-made tool that could facilitate child rehabilitation at the centre. Co-designing and digital fabrication are the key elements for innovating the healthcare world.