Duration
10 weeks
My Role
Product Designer
Tech Pack Developer
Prototype Builder
Athlete Usability Tester
Software
Rhino
KeyShot
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Figma
Design Constraints
Creating a fully analog catapult that balances safety, accessibility, and performance, while using affordable, gym-friendly materials for broad adoption.
Project Results
Delivering a functional, full-scale catapult that empowers athletes with limited mobility to compete independently, and prompting a rule change for official play.
Sketching & Concepts
Initial sketches focused on analog launching concepts, exploring spring tension, exercise bands, arm angles, and trigger mechanisms to deliver consistent performance without electronics. These early ideas laid the groundwork for a fully mechanical, athlete-friendly design.
How It Works
The coach adjusts the arm’s release angle based on the athlete’s preferences. Once set, the coach pulls the arm down and secures it under the hooks, then places the beanbag on the SOOR logo. When the athlete is ready, they press the red pedal to launch the beanbag.
Each athlete will launch the beanbags at different distances depending on how hard and how quickly they press the red pedal.
Launch
This project was sponsored by Special Olympics Oregon and funded through the Oregon Innovation Challenge.
There’s no existing cornhole equipment that empowers athletes with limited mobility to compete independently. Standard boards and bags rely on the ability to throw, leaving some athletes unable to fully participate without assistance.
Launch is designed to change that. Built for athletes who can’t perform the traditional cornhole throw, it provides a simple, mechanical way to launch a bag. This brings independence, confidence, and competition back into the game. Each athlete controls their own throw by adjusting how hard they press the lever, creating a unique, personalized experience every time. The design adapts to different skill levels and abilities, helping every athlete play and compete on their own terms.
Compact, durable, and easy to use, Launch transforms the cornhole experience. It’s more than a tool. It’s a chance for every athlete to show up, play, and compete.
Roles:
Tech Pack Developer · Prototype Builder · Woodworker · Photographer · Athlete Tester
Skills:
Rhino · Figma · Adobe Illustrator · Adobe Photoshop · Adobe InDesign
Project Duration:
10 weeks
Winter, 2025
FINAL DESIGN
PROCESS
How might...
adaptive equipment enable athletes with limited mobility to engage in cornhole independently?
Low-Fi Prototyping
Exploring form, function, and construction through fast, iterative sketching.
Athlete Testing
I tested different foot pedal sizes with athletes to optimize usability and performance.
Easy to press
Hard to press
Tech Pack
I developed detailed tech packs with construction steps and materials for manufacturers to build the product.
Features
This tech pack outlines the design and construction details of the Arch bag, a structured carry solution for architectural drafters.
1 Easy to release catapult arm. This allows the athlete to independently release the catapult arm when they decide.
2 Adjustable stopper, the athlete can choose an angle that they would like the stopper to be set at. The coach will then move the support bars to the chosen slot.
3 The hook system allows for ease of use and doesn’t require a lot of force when placing the arm under it. It allows for a quick release once the pedal is pressed.
How to use Launch
Launch is ready to use in three quick steps.