Faces on Design: A Legacy of Purposeful Design

For 17 years, University of Detroit Mercy Engineering and Nursing students have combined their expertise to create personalized assistive technology devices for community members with disabilities in a program called Faces on Design.  

This multidisciplinary patient-centered program pairs seniors from the College of Engineering & Science and higher-level Nursing students from the McAuley School of Nursing. The teams are made up of three to four Engineering students and one Nursing student, with each team taking on the name of their client. 

The two-semester course starts with students building relationships, observing limitations and identifying opportunities to help. In the second semester, the students focus on prototyping and testing a new device to fit the clients’ specific needs before presenting a final design.  

Mefi Barrera has post-polio syndrome after contracting polio at the age of 3. He wears multiple braces on his legs that cause limitations in bending, lifting and climbing with the biggest concern being falling.  

Alyssa Gryzwac, a Nursing student and member of Team Mefi, remembers identifying a focus area for Barrera after observing his daily routine. 

“We came in the one day and shadowed how he did everything, including how he got up out of bed, how he would get into his car and take things down the stairs,” she said. “I could just see that there's an easier way for him to do things and safer too.”    

Team Mefi plans to build a lift system device that will anchor into the ground outside his house and rotate 180 degrees, allowing Barrera to attach items to the device and easily move them from his car to his porch and back.   

Barrera’s excitement about participating in this program goes beyond the individual support the new device will give him.  

“The reason that I'm interested in this is, when you solve the problem for one person, you may find a solution for many,” he said.   

Bobbi Stevens also has post-polio syndrome. Team Bobbi is focused on designing an assistive device that will make it easier for Stevens to move from a wheelchair to a car and avoid falls. 

Team Richard’s client, Richard Dries, has mobility limitations that stem from a partial spinal cord injury after a fall from a roof.  

Their design aims to eliminate Dries' need to use multiple reaching and grip devices for day-to-day tasks. 

“He had a different tool in basically every room in the house. Each one had a different end, a different weight, a different material and a different strength," said Andy Trupiano, a Mechanical Engineering student and member of Team Richard. "Basically, what we did with our design is we tried to consolidate that all into one design.” 

For Jezelle Manni, who is also a Mechanical Engineering student and a member of Team Richard, this is a passion project. 

“I was really excited to get this project because I'm doing a minor in biomedical design, and I always wanted to help people who had disabilities and create products for them,” she said. 

The ability to help others in a direct way is the through-line for why this program continues to resonate over 17 years, despite how the demographics of students have changed. 

“It motivates the students. It makes them feel like their studies and the work could actually go to benefit something bigger than themselves,” said Nassif Reyez, Professor of Mechanical Engineering. 

And the lasting impacts go beyond happy clients and educational success. 

“I’ve had several Nursing students come back and tell me that this experience has given them confidence, an ability to practice their leadership skills and an opportunity to meet students outside of the School of Nursing and develop lifelong bonds,” said Molly McCleland, Professor of Nursing. 

The final presentation of the assistive devices is set for April 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Engineering High Bay on the McNichols Campus. 

Learn more about UDM's Engineering and Nursing programs.