Oliver Starke
Product Designer focused on human-centred innovation, combining DFM thinking with refined aesthetics to create thoughtful, practical products that improve everyday experiences.
FOG Multi-Modal Cueing System
Freezing of Gait (FOG) is a common motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease where individuals experience a sudden, involuntary episode of being “stuck” while walking, significantly increasing the risk of falls and reducing independence.
Overview
This multi-modal wearable system is designed to detect and respond to FOG episodes in real time using logic informed by the clinically validated Daphnet dataset. The device provides adaptive cueing across three channels.
Adjustable Haptic feedback: A coin vibration motor delivers rhythmic tactile pulses to externally cue gait timing and re-establish stepping cadence through somatosensory stimulation.
Visual Laser Line: Projects a stable forward stepping target, using visual spatial cueing to bypass motor block and trigger step initiation.
Auditory Cueing: Provides timed rhythmic audio pulses, metronome-style, to reinforce gait and support movement co-ordination via bluetooth connectivity.
Key Features
Laser system features a self-stabilising gimbal and ToF auto-calibration to maintain a consistent directional line regardless of where the device is magnetically mounted on the torso.
IMU-based motion sensing, tested for accurate detection and classification of FOG events, including duration, frequency and severity. This enables the generation of long-term, passive clinical patient reports without reliance on embarrassing conversations, reducing stigma and improving real-world fidelity.
Whole-garment textile sleeves to mount ankle and shin-based haptic modules, introducing flex zones, improved comfort and washability.
Overall, the design is built around the principle that “one size does not fit all” in FOG cueing interventions, enabling adaptable, personalised support across varying user needs and conditions.
Design for Manufacture (DFM)
All components are accurately sized, standardised and readily sourceable. Custom PCBs were designed to integrate into the system architecture. Every part underwent DFM analysis, including draft and undercut analysis, single-direction assembly optimisation and wall thickness analysis. The current design supports efficiency, scalability and a credible transition from prototype to functional system.
Product Development
Throughout the development process, a series of working physical prototypes were designed and evaluated. These included bench-tested hardware prototypes, wearable user-testing prototypes, interaction models and UX app prototype experiences. Each stage provided valuable insights into usability, ergonomics, functionality and user interaction, helping to refine the system and inform the final product outcome. Please refer to the video at the end of the web page to view a compilation of clips from this process.
Live Projects
10 Day industry project, the brief I chose was set by IDC.
“Design a product, experience or environment that monitors something to make users more aware and help improve their health.”
Design solution: A product for recreational combat sport participants that monitors visual-neurological performance to increase awareness of brain health. The proposal investigates how short controlled visual tasks, such as smooth pursuit, rapid target shifts and pupillary response can be used to reveal changes in neurological performance following head injuries.
Fire Extinguishing Robot
This was a team-led project focused on the development of a remote-controlled fire extinguishing robot. The final robot incorporated dynamic drive speed control, a custom track suspension system, a 2-axis air turret rotation mechanism, embedded 3D printed nut fixings and snap-fit internal electrical mountings.
Through multiple stages of design development, prototyping and testing the team iteratively refined the design, going from a 0% obstacle completion on pre-test day, to confidently completing all obstacles on the track during the final test day. Please refer to the video at the end of the web page to view a compilation of clips from this process and its final performance.
Industry Experience
15 Month Placement at 3D Aesthetics, Rugby. First design engineer within the company, responsible for introducing additive manufacturing into the product development workflow. Led design and development of a new medical machine range, produced high-quality visualisations and marketing assets to support product launch and brand communication.
I also work freelance through STARKE CREATIVE, my family graphic design studio, contributing to a range of product design, visualisation and POS projects. Clients include Nandos, In the Welsh Wind Distillery and Foreva Farmers.
Get in Touch
I am actively seeking opportunities in product design and innovation, Get in Touch: