In collaboration with Dr. Amy Kenny, Director of Georgetown’s Disability Cultural Center, my graduate cohort helped develop an accessible sit-to-stand lectern to be used in a formal event space on campus. As of January 2026, the lectern has been implemented and is now usable.
client collaboration
design thinking
universal design
Our group’s initial sketch featured a height adjustable base and width adjustable wings, silicone-coated edges, storage and hooks for mobility devices, lockable wheels, a button-powered gooseneck microphone, braille instructions, and a QR code that links to large-print text and audio instructions. We then visited Georgetown's Maker Hub to turn this sketch into an initial prototype.
After prototyping, we met with experts from DBE systems, dancker, Locus Studios, and Steelcase to learn more about designing furniture for commercial and educational spaces. This discussion allowed us to refine our design and to consider the specifications that we would include in our design, including materials, measurements, and technology. This initial meeting turned into regular meetings across several months, culminating in the design that is in Riggs Library today.