Helping Hand - Door opening/closing assister

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This product is designed to assist short-statured individuals, such as individuals with dwarfism and diastrophic dysplasia, with opening and closing doors. The product will attach to door knobs and door handles and allow short-statured individuals to easily reach and access doors. The product will be portable and will be able to be easily moved to take to new locations with unreachable doors. 


What do you think?


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Comments
UpRising @ 2025.12.17 4:06 AM

Such a clever and interesting idea Jake. Powerful in its simplicity and important in its empathic approach.

How can we help? If you can provide two or three issues that you need some assistance with, that would be great.

Looking forward to seeing your project develop. 



UpRising @ 2025.12.20 12:54 AM

Was also thinking about the modular thinking you are bringing into the design. Creating a high level of adjustablity provides more of options. It's there a way to make the handle extend?


Peter Murphy @ 2026.02.11 8:03 AM

Helping Hand is a thoughtful and genuinely inclusive design idea. 

Making this design 3D printable and easily modifiable feels like a strong direction. It could allow users to adjust, repair, or customise the product to suit their own needs and different door types. This also opens up the possibility of creating multiple versions for different activities or environments, rather than a single fixed solution.

Peter Murphy RMIT University


Chris Collins @ 2026.04.07 9:04 AM

This is a really thoughtful and practical design concept. The idea of interchangeable attachments for both door knobs and handles shows strong consideration for real-world variation in homes and public spaces. The inclusion of a hole grip for easier access is a smart ergonomic feature.

One area you could develop further is how the attachment secures to the door. Developing a locking mechanism or material choice would strengthen the feasibility. Additionally, considering factors like durability, hygiene, and ease of installation.


Chris Collins

CQU ENEG12007 Creative Engineering


Josiah L @ 2026.04.09 4:47 PM

This is a great idea, its simplicity and wide range of door compatibility would promote its use and greatly appeal to the target audience. I especially like the idea that this could be a 3D printed product, contributing to a lower cost.


You may wish to consider whether this design can be adapted to serve a wider audience who also have difficulty opening doors. A few examples are the elderly who may struggle with poor eyesight or arthritis, or those with physical disabilities that limit the dexterity of their arms and hands.


Josiah Lowe

CQUniversity Bachelor of Engineering


Jeram Aguirre @ 2026.04.11 12:36 AM

This is a highly functional and thoughtful idea, Jake. The key strength includes its portability, the ability to attach to both doorknobs and handles, and a simple mechanical design that keeps costs low and reliability high.

However, challenges such as attachment stability, limited compatibility with different door types, and potential hygiene concerns may affect usability.

Some future developments may include improving the locking mechanism, introducing adaptable components for universal fit, and enhancing ergonomics for easier one-handed use.

Overall, it’s a strong, innovative concept with great potential to become an effective and widely applicable assistive device.


Jeram Aguirre

CQU ENEG12007 Creative Engineering 



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