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2026 Galleries // 2026 Spark: Spring Student // Gripit

Gripit

Winner - Gold

Competition: Spark: Spring Student
Designer: Jihee Han
Design Type:
Company / Organization / School: Hanseo University
Team Members: Jihee Han & Gyutae Go

As societies around the world enter an era of rapid population aging, maintaining cognitive health has become a critical healthcare challenge. Dementia prevalence continues to increase as life expectancy rises, affecting not only individuals but also families, healthcare systems, and communities. Because dementia significantly impacts independence and quality of life, preventive care and early intervention are becoming increasingly important. Rather than focusing solely on treatment after diagnosis, there is growing recognition of the need for daily activities that help support cognitive engagement throughout the aging process.

Research has shown that fine motor activities involving the hands can play an important role in cognitive stimulation. Hand movements activate multiple areas of the brain associated with perception, attention, coordination, problem-solving, memory processing, and spatial awareness. Activities that involve gripping, pulling, twisting, and pressing objects encourage communication between motor and cognitive systems, making fine motor exercises a valuable component of cognitive wellness programs for older adults.

Despite the growing demand for cognitive care solutions, many existing cognitive training products have limitations. Most products are developed primarily for children, educational purposes, or individuals with cognitive disabilities. As a result, they often fail to consider the unique physical, sensory, and cognitive characteristics of older adults. Furthermore, many rehabilitation tools appear clinical or repetitive, which can reduce motivation and make long-term participation difficult. Effective cognitive care requires consistency, yet maintaining engagement remains one of the greatest challenges for preventive health programs.

GRIPIT was created to address these challenges by transforming cognitive training into a simple and enjoyable daily habit. Rather than presenting exercises as medical treatment, the device encourages users to integrate cognitive wellness naturally into their everyday routines. The design philosophy is based on the belief that cognitive training should not feel burdensome. Instead, it should be accessible, engaging, and easy to repeat over time.

The product features three intuitive interaction methods: Grip & Pull, Twist, and Push. Each interaction is based on familiar hand movements commonly performed during everyday activities. By using natural motions, the device minimizes learning barriers and allows users to engage confidently regardless of their prior experience with cognitive training products.

Grip & Pull encourages hand strength, coordination, and controlled movement. Twist supports wrist flexibility and motor coordination through rotational interaction. Push promotes finger dexterity, precision, and tactile engagement. Together, these activities provide a balanced fine motor exercise experience while stimulating cognitive processes through active participation.

Accessibility was a central consideration throughout the design process. Aging often brings changes in vision, dexterity, and sensory perception that can affect product usability. One particularly important visual change is the yellowing of the eye's lens, which can reduce color discrimination and contrast sensitivity. As a result, older adults may experience difficulty distinguishing between similar colors, identifying functional elements, or interpreting visual information quickly.

To address these challenges, GRIPIT incorporates a high-contrast color system specifically designed for aging users. The color palette emphasizes clear distinctions in brightness and saturation, allowing interaction areas to remain visible and recognizable even for users experiencing age-related visual decline. This approach improves usability, accessibility, and confidence while reducing visual strain during use.

The physical design also prioritizes intuitive interaction. Functional areas are clearly differentiated, enabling users to understand how the product works without extensive instructions. By simplifying interaction and reducing cognitive load, the device creates a more comfortable and inclusive user experience.

Beyond physical usability, GRIPIT focuses on long-term behavioral engagement. Many health-related products fail because users discontinue participation after an initial period of interest. Preventive cognitive care is most effective when practiced consistently, making habit formation a critical design objective. GRIPIT addresses this challenge by transforming repetitive exercises into enjoyable daily experiences. Rather than viewing cognitive training as an obligation, users are encouraged to incorporate it into their everyday routines as a positive wellness activity.

This shift from therapy to habit represents one of the project's core values. By making cognitive engagement approachable and rewarding, GRIPIT helps users maintain motivation and build sustainable wellness behaviors over time. Small daily actions become opportunities for cognitive stimulation, supporting continued participation without requiring complex instructions or structured rehabilitation programs.

From a broader societal perspective, GRIPIT reflects the growing importance of preventive healthcare in aging societies. As healthcare systems face increasing pressure from age-related cognitive conditions, accessible solutions that encourage proactive self-care become increasingly valuable. By combining cognitive stimulation, fine motor activity, accessible visual design, and engaging interaction, GRIPIT offers a practical and user-centered approach to supporting healthy aging.

Ultimately, GRIPIT demonstrates how thoughtful product design can contribute to cognitive wellness. It transforms repetitive exercises into meaningful daily experiences, encourages long-term engagement, and empowers older adults to take an active role in maintaining their cognitive health. Through simple hand movements and accessible design, GRIPIT supports independence, confidence, and quality of life while promoting a healthier and more sustainable approach to cognitive care.