Single Handed (1 of 6): Design Adaptations for Living with One (Functional) Hand

Last year, I suffered a serious injury that initially rendered my right arm and hand both completely numb and paralyzed. Tests revealed severe damage to a network of nerves called the brachial plexus. That’s the crucial nexus of nerve pathways carrying signals back and forth between the spinal column and the arm. I went from thinking in terms of days, weeks, or maybe months at worst … to grappling with a recovery likely to take years at least and to be partial at best.

Laying in the hospital for a week, I thought about big-picture ways this would reshape my life and work. But after I was discharged, and gratefully swapped out my gown for street clothes, I realized I had more pressing problems. The first puzzle I faced was at least straightforward, even if the solutions I found weren’t entirely as simple: I had to sort out how to carry around everyday stuff without easy access to half of my pockets.

This is the first article in a six-part mini-series that starts small, then expands to cover a whole range of adaptive designs (and design adaptations) for people (like me) with one working hand.

Pockets Change: Keep Calm & Carry Stuff

For those of us who rely heavily on our pants for storing a lot of things on the go (men in particular, given the widespread lack of pockets on women’s pants) losing half of that storage can mean cramming a phone, wallet, keys, meds, and more into half the space. Bags, of course, offer an age-old solution to this problem. (I like my Handy Little Thing [HLT] from Tom Bihn, and utilize quick-release straps with magnetic buckles, like these from DSPTCH and Alpaka.) But bags can get in the way of post-injury orthoses (and free movement in general). Also, storage space is only part of the equation – easy access to one’s stuff is also critical, and a bit more difficult to replace.

One of my first finds was a retractable card holder, which makes it easier to swipe a keycard or slide out a credit card, driver’s license, or work badge – all without having to reach into your pocket and rummage through other stuff. Sure it might look a bit nerdy (or in the case of this model: maybe a tad too tacti-cool), but “function over form” is a good mantra to fall back on in the wake of a debilitating injury. Keys can be clipped to rings at the end as well. And if you’re concerned about the jingling making this setup even more conspicuous, well: initial solutions in the wake of a crisis may involve compromises. Alternatively, there are also other ways to free up precious and limited pocket space.

A phone clip case at least clears one big everyday item out of a newly valuable side pocket. These can be clipped to your pants, the strap of a bag, or part of an orthosis (I found places on a few arm slings and braces to attach mine). Most of these are two-part systems, featuring a minimal phone case that slips into a separate outer half-shell with the clip on its back. Some are bulkier because they offer heavy-duty corner protection. Others boast MagSafe compatibility. I opted for a slim option that also has a fold-out stand. There are also universal sticky-back clips that you can apply directly to the back of your current phone (or) case if you prefer, but then the clip stays with you even when you go to use the phone (which may get awkward).

Phone holsters offer another option for relocating phones from pockets. Some also contain additional space for other stuff, too. They typically either have clips or have gaps designed for a belt or strap to pass through. For a time, I used a dual phone holster to carry both my small handheld Boox Palma e-reader and my similarly sized phone. You might be put off by the whole tacti-cool vibe, but at least (if you get one with a removable flag patch) you can velcro on a 99pi logo instead, which I did (Alas, I made these independently, so they aren’t available in our store — I do still have extras, though, and could be convinced to a mail some out!)

As for items that you plan to leave in your pockets: you may want to use suspension clips to render things more easily accessible. These can be used to hang objects like keys or pocket knives, making them a bit easier to grab. Some simply have holes at the bottom while others have carabiners or keyrings. These won’t make more space, but can make it easier to sort through stuff in cramped quarters.

For pills, I have tiny pop-top tubs with grouped single-dose sets-to-go and carry a larger (though still small) four-compartment case when I need more capacity and variety. The main latch on the latter case and individual flip lids inside are all easy to use with one hand. Plus, it’s slim enough to keep a low pocket profile while having trays deep enough to hold large pills.

Retro Fit: A Wallet Chain By Any Other Name

Despite my earlier admonition to prioritize functionality over style, I did ultimately adopt a key-and-card carrying solution more to my aesthetic liking. After solving some of my other pocket storage problems (with clips and other things mentioned above), I relaxed a bit and turned to what I’d like to think of as a more adult version of a wallet chain (yes, I did grow up in the 90s and yes, I did have a wallet on a chain).

Basically, I hooked a double swivel carabiner to a belt loop, connected to a slim 16-inch “snaphook” key strap, then clipped that to a ring for my keys as well as a thin wallet. (Note: Tom Bihn [I’m a fan] is often out of Woojin Plastic’s double biners, but you can get them elsewhere online). Clipped to a belt loop, a double-swivel carabiner lets each part of the clip rotate independently of the other, keeping things untangled. I find this setup helps me more easily fish attached essentials out of my pockets, simply by pulling up the key strap, which is especially useful considering that my functional (left) hand is (alas) my non-dominant one.

Clearly, while function is the first and foremost consideration, there are also aesthetic concerns that you may choose to prioritize (if you have that luxury) or ignore (if you’re scrambling to solve a lot of new problems quickly and suffering from choice fatigue). In lucky moments amidst your search for solutions: Venn diagrams may even converge on circles – when something nerdy, or techy, or outdoorsy, or even tacti-cool, conveniently dovetails with your existing vibe, or a new post-accident look you’re actively cultivating.

Single Handed: A Six-Part Design Miniseries

That’s it for this introductory installment of Single Handed, created by 99pi’s own Kurt Kohlstedt (that’s me!). In the coming articles, we’ll continue to utilize my post-injury experience as a foil for examining accessibility problems and solutions through a design lens.

Subsequent pieces will cover adaptive one-handed designs for shoes, clothes, bags, e-books, housewares, office tools, and more. We’ll review intentionally assistive designs as well as incidentally adaptive finds; inclusive off-the-shelf items and things that need to be modified for accessibility.

Our trajectory will take us from more urgent essentials toward more recreational considerations; and from quicker and easier fixes toward more complex customizations and personalized modifications. Lastly, we’ll pivot from focusing on problems themselves to considering the roles people around us play in helping to find solutions. Come for the designs, stay for the bad puns. Next up: adaptive footwear shoe-lutions!

On the Origin of the Series by 99% Invisible’s Kurt Kohlstedt

When I first sat down and started writing about one-handed design challenges, it was just going to be a single article – a brief introduction to (and overview of) adaptive design. But as I began to fill in the details, one article became two, then three, and ultimately: a series of six. I hope you find them engaging, whether you find yourself in a similar situation (as someone seeking one-handed solutions), have a friend or neighbor facing comparable struggles, or are simply a beautiful nerd interested in everyday design.

Adapting to life after my injury, I used to joke that everything was three times harder and took three times as long as it had before … except, I wasn’t entirely kidding. I discovered that just doing ordinary things I needed to get done throughout a given day was exhausting; the basics took all of the time and effort I could bring to bear. The more I identified and addressed even small problems, however, the more I was able to reclaim time and energy.

Reflecting on these various challenges, I began to consider the ways in which different design solutions and adaptations reflected different kinds of problem solving and design thinking. Each article centers on a specific challenge, but surveys various paths toward a resolution. The pieces may make the most sense if read in numbered order, but each article also stands on its own. So approach them forward, backward, upside down, or however you want!

P.S. Apologies in advance if the puns and wordplays get out of hand at times – (see, like that, right there!) – but in the immortal words of the Indigo Girls (1200 Curfews [Live Album], 1995, Disc 1, Track 2): “you have to laugh at yourself sometimes, because you’d cry your eyes out if you didn’t!”

Check Out the Rest of the Single Handed:

Part 2: Shoelace workarounds can be cheap, fast, good – pick two. Shoe-lutions include lace locks and assistive footwear:

Part 3: Before shopping for inclusive apparel, it can pay to look closely at one’s wardrobe for clothes that may work:

Part 4: Sling and messenger bags lack everyday utility and comfort, but a backpack can be hacked for crossbody carry:

Part 5: Many recreational options may be out of reach, but e-readers remain accessible, augmented for one-handed use:

Part 6: Sometimes those around us are best situated to spot problems right in front of us, and come up with solutions, too: