A Backlit, Customizable Staircase that Reduces Injury

Co-Design

Our studio at Accademia Italiana was approached by NewLiving Scale, a staircase designer in Tuscany, and tasked with creating a product that is feasible, simple, and fits into their existing lineup.

Objective

My objective for this project was simple: create a staircase that decreases the odds of injury and is a welcome addition to homes, entertainment spaces, or anywhere else.

Features to Avoid

Before doing market research, I looked through countless staircases to define the features or design types that I were a no-go for my eventual product. They included:

• Spiral Staircases: this design might look great but makes it too easy to fall and it is impossible to carry a large object up them, something homeowners find themselves doing.

• Floating Stairs: the gaps between steps create a place to get stuck and require extra strength out of the wall they are mounted to, leaving external factors at play.

• Glass: breakable, heavy, and requires frequent cleaning.

What Causes Staircase Accidents?

Slipping or tripping on the stairs most commonly happens because the user was walking and talking, carrying a large object, or looking at their phone.

These causes boil down to one thing: the user was not looking at their feet.

Trend Analysis

The most common trends in staircase design are digital templating, customization, smart features, and monochromatic color schemes.

My Approach

After finishing my research, my primary goal was to use backlighting to motivate the user to look down at the stairs, which will inadvertently reduce staircase accidents. My secondary goal was to create a product that can be manufactured, transported, and assembled with maximum efficiency by using sheet metal.