Onward

What it does

Onward turns walking into a strength-building exercise. With resistance-enabled wheels and a sleek, foldable form, it supports balance, stamina, and confidence, empowering older adults to stay active, safe, and independent every day.

Your inspiration

I was inspired by my grandma, who only uses her walker when absolutely necessary. She falls often, but her walker doesn’t offer real support—she can’t lean on it or push it safely. I realized most walkers feel like a burden, not a source of confidence. I want to change that. Walkers should be a tool that strengthens mobility and promotes healthy aging—not just something that accommodates decline.

How it works

Onward is a lifestyle walker that transforms walking into active strength training. It features resistance wheels powered by a magnetic particle brake system, allowing users to adjust the intensity of resistance as they walk. This turns each step into an opportunity to build strength, stability, and endurance. An intuitive LCD display lets users customize resistance based on their comfort and fitness goals. With a sleek, modern frame and a foldable design for easy transport and storage, Onward empowers older adults to move confidently, promoting healthy aging, independence, and daily activity.

Design process

I began the design process by researching fashionable mobility aids and was drawn to the aesthetic of modern strollers, which felt sleek and less clinical. This led me to explore the visual language of chariots—strong, forward-bracing, and empowering in form. Inspired by these references, I intentionally moved away from hospital walkers' standardized, rigid appearance, aiming for a more sophisticated, lifestyle-oriented design. I explored the form and frame through sketches, conceptualizing how integrated resistance mechanisms might work. In my prototypes, I focused on refining the structure, adding a foldable design for ease of use and storage. Each iteration brought me closer to a walker that supports and empowers its user.

How it is different

Onward aims to shift away from the rigid, clinical design commonly associated with mobility aids for older adults. Traditional products tend to prioritize function over form, making them feel more like a necessary tool rather than a lifestyle walker that promotes independence. This often leads to reluctance in using them. Unlike other walkers, Onward integrates a sleek, modern aesthetic and incorporates a resistance system that turns each step into a strength-building opportunity. This innovation transforms the walker into a strength-building tool rather than just an aid for mobility. It encourages users to stay active, build strength, and practice safe exercise—all while staying independent and in control of their motor functions. Onward challenges the common association of walkers with frailty and dependence, positioning them as a means to empower users to live confidently.

Future plans

As I graduate this week, I’m excited to explore the next steps in the development of Onward. In the future, I hope to expand Onward's functionality to include additional features, such as sensors to monitor health metrics and an app for tracking progress. My long-term vision is to establish a company that produces mobility aids that empower users to live independently, stay active, and improve their quality of life. With the right funding, I plan to collaborate with electrical engineers and other experts to integrate a fully functioning resistance braking system, ensuring it works seamlessly and provides adjustable resistance for users.

Awards