For most of the twentieth century, the walking stick was an object that designers ignored. It was manufactured for procurement teams, not for people. The result was a product that was functional in the narrowest sense and alienating in almost every other.
That is changing. And the change matters more than it might seem.
The exhibition that said something important
In June 2026, Objectspace Auckland opens Walking sticks and canes, an exhibition running until the end of August that brings together some of the world's most considered designers to turn their attention to one of the most overlooked objects in everyday life. That this is happening in a design gallery, rather than a medical trade show, says something about where the conversation is heading.
The walking stick is being reconsidered as a designed object. Not a device. Not an aid in the clinical sense. An object that accompanies a person through their daily life and should, by that measure, be worthy of the same care as anything else they choose to carry.
Why design matters for mobility aids
There is a well-documented relationship between how we feel about the objects we use and how consistently we use them. A walking stick that feels like a medical prescription tends to be left in the car or the cupboard. A walking stick that someone is proud to carry tends to go everywhere.
This is not a vanity issue. It is a health issue. Consistent use of a walking stick improves balance, reduces fall risk, and offloads pressure from arthritic or post-surgical joints. We wrote about this in more depth in our piece on overcoming the stigma of using a walking stick. The stigma is a design problem. Better design is part of the solution.
What makes a walking stick well designed?
Genuine design thinking applied to a walking stick starts with ergonomics and extends through materials, proportion, finish, and the experience of carrying the object over time.
The handle is where most of the interaction happens. An ergonomically shaped handle that puts the wrist in a neutral position is noticeably different from a straight grip after an hour of use. This is not decorative. It is the difference between a stick that can be used all day and one that creates its own discomfort.
Materials have a logic too. Hardwood develops a patina with use, becoming more particular to its owner over time. The weight and warmth of wood in the hand, combined with the smooth, recycled plastic handle is a different sensory experience from hollow metal. These things matter to people in ways they cannot always articulate, but they affect whether the object gets used.
Colour is a considered choice rather than an afterthought. The ooak Uno comes in eight colour combinations, developed around the natural tone of the wood and the recycled plastic components. The full story of the materials is in our sustainability piece.
The ooak Uno: a New Zealand walking stick designed for people
ooak was founded in Wellington by designer Robbie van Dam, whose starting point was a simple frustration: his father-in-law needed a walking stick and nothing available was worth carrying. The Uno is the answer to that problem.
It is stocked in design-forward retail stores and galleries across Aotearoa, not in medical supply catalogues. It is available in New Zealand and Australia, with free shipping and free returns. It is a stick that people get complimented on, which tells you everything about the gap it fills.
If you are looking for a stylish walking stick in NZ that functions as well as it looks, the Uno is the starting point. If you are looking for a gift that reframes the conversation about mobility, it is even better.
See the full range at ooak.co/pages/shop, or read about the story behind ooak and why it exists: rethinking mobility aids.
