London, United Kingdom
Designed by Pearson Lloyd, Flow X is a revolutionary new stairlift that puts comfort, aesthetics and user experience at the forefront of its design.
Developed for mobility specialist Access BDD, a division of the global tech company TK Elevator, Flow X is a transformative, technologically advanced mobility solution that is as visually appealing as it is life enhancingly functional.
The population of adults aged 60 and over is growing rapidly, and will soon exceed that of under-fives.
With a new generation of discerning, design-aware, tech-literate seniors on the rise, Flow X is one of the first stairlift products designed specifically to meet the physical and emotional needs of this increasingly independent audience.
The result of 10 years of research, design and development, Flow X is comfortable, intuitive and easy to use, with an elegant ergonomic design that is simply not found in comparable products.
Patented ASL (Advanced Swivel Levelling) technology ensures the seat and footrest rotate together, maintaining optimal distances between the chair and the staircase and enabling the user to get on and off without twisting their body.
A unique folding mechanism (with automatic and manual options) at the heart of the design means that the chair takes up minimal space on the stairs when not in use, and, importantly, allows the user to park the stairlift without bending the back and knees.
Flow X’s innovative arms unfold to provide support for sitting and standing, and can unfold fully to allow easy side access from a wheelchair.
All user-operated controls are located on the arms, which rotate from an elevated yoke attached to the chair’s central spine and curved, supportive backrest.
The resultant space beneath the arms allows freedom of the legs and hips while the user is seated.
The controls have been designed to be as simple and intuitive as possible.
The unique joystick is easily manipulated by any part of the hand or wrist, and the buttons and indicator lights have been carefully placed to be visible and operable in any position.
Flow X also incorporates a built-in call function that allows three phone numbers to be programmed in, enabling users to contact family, friends and medical/care teams.
Like many mobility and medical products, stairlifts have historically been heavily engineered solutions, with little priority given to design, aesthetics or comfort.
This has often resulted in a poor user experience that has discouraged the less able-bodied from installing stairlifts until the need has become unavoidable.
By focusing on the user experience and optimizing what is possible from an engineering perspective, together alongside, Access BDD and TK Elevator we have created a product that people needn’t be ashamed to install in their homes, enabling users to retain their independence and remain in their home.
Outcomes are statistically proven to produce better longevity outcomes and quality of life than going into care.
Project: Flow X
Designers: Pearson Lloyd
Manufacturer: Access BDD and TK Elevator
