When Primera joined forces with Safehinge, this presented exciting new opportunities to create our products in tandem – combining our design and engineering expertise from Safehinge with the lockset and handle expertise of Primera.
The Primera handles are synonymous with safe mental health environments but we’re always curious to see how we can make things better. For the past 5 months I've been working with our lockset team to develop a new anti-ligature door handle. Coming from a background in furniture design, I've wealth of experience in model making and prototyping – much of which I've used during this project.
Designing the handle
Following our philosophy that good design starts with conversation and observation, I began the process by speaking to over 40 of you – from clinical staff and architects to estates and capital teams, as well as designers and service users.
You told me that existing handles were institutional and did little to create a homely and normal environment. Clinical staff also indicated a need for a new handle that offered better grip, ensuring practicality on a day-to-day basis.
One of the top desires of architects was to remove or reduce the impact of the metal backplate which is used on our existing handles, whilst retaining the robustness of fixing.
These inputs allowed me to create a design brief that addressed your requirements – carefully balancing the needs of each user group. I also took inspiration from handles in hotels to create various styles.
Throughout the process, I involved you, carrying out a nationwide feedback roadshow – including meeting service users – to ensure our designs resonated positively with them.
Prototypes and testing
I used product prototypes to test the practicality of the options. Those of you who’d use the product on a daily basis – like clinicians and service users – were crucial to this part of the process. Observing both male and female participants of varying weights and heights helped ensure the end product would be practical for all of you.
In line with mental healthcare design, the engineering team then tested the handle against the TS001 specification for multi-directional and vertically downwards ligature assessment. It passed.
Try it yourself at DIMHN 2018
Currently moving through the final design stages, our new handle will be showcased at DIMHN May 2018. You’ll be able to use a fully working version and provide further feedback – allowing us to make further changes before it goes through the final stages of production setup.
We look forward to seeing you there!
