Holon Institute Students Win Global Award for Adaptive Seating for Child with Dystonia

Two industrial design students from the Holon Institute of Technology (HIT), Shani Ehrlich and Max Kostinsky, developed a customized seating solution to assist a six-year-old boy named Adam who suffers from dystonia, a neurological disorder causing involuntary muscle contractions and movement difficulties. Their project, "Adam’s Chair," was recognized as one of the four main winners in the TOM Global Innovation Challenge (GIC), an international competition focused on assistive technology for people with disabilities. The contest featured 362 participants from 12 countries, with only seven prizes awarded, each including a $3,000 grant.

"Adam’s Chair" provides stability, support, and comfort without restricting movement, enabling Adam to sit safely on the floor, maintain optimal posture, and participate more independently in daily activities alongside his peers at the "Eshkol Raksim" kindergarten in Modiin. The project was developed as part of the Fixperts course at HIT’s Department of Industrial Design, under the guidance of Professors Gad Cherni and Katy Levin. The development process involved close collaboration with Adam, his educational team, and his physiotherapist, including repeated field testing to refine the solution.

Shani Ehrlich expressed pride in the international recognition, emphasizing the project’s origin in a real need and its potential to help other children with complex physical disabilities. Idan Sela, CEO of Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM), highlighted that all projects in the competition are open-source, allowing widespread access and impact. Professor Dudi Rabad, Dean of the Design Faculty at HIT, noted that the Fixperts course bridges design, medicine, and rehabilitation, celebrating 12 years of empowering students to create life-changing solutions.