Aileen Hunnell of Unwind Designs Makes Art Accessible
Diamond Queen by Linda Lewis made for Aileen Hunnell
Aileen Hunnell’s mission to remove barriers to art. Aileen didn’t know that was exactly what she was doing for years before she developed assistive technology.
As an after school supervisor Aileen’s role was to bring art activities to schools to engage students after a laborious school day, and before they went home to prepare for the next. Her challenge was to find a relaxing, screenless project that would encourage students to come, while getting them to stay. She also had to consider the wide age range of the students, language barriers, and students with diverse needs.
Aileen’s personal experiences inspired her. While at home with her son during covid, Mario video games kept her son occupied in his free time. In hopes to connect her son’s interest to something off screen, she bought him a Mario diamond sticker kit. “There is only so much you can handle before your brain shuts down”. She saw how her son benefitted from the activity. He was able to relax after online classes, and his handwriting improved. “If I noticed this, other parents are not realizing their children could use more fine motor practice too”. Aileen realized she had the ability to make an even bigger change supervising a program with 182 children.
Aileen introduced the students to diamond painting. She quickly realized the benefits of diamond painting. The children loved the tactile and shiny activity. The repetitive motions enhance fine motor skills while giving the students time to decompress.
She also noticed the ways diamond painting was not user friendly for both students, and even adults. Diamond painting typically comes in a package with a complex code including numbers, colors, letters, and “It was confusing for everybody”. Diamonds were instructed to be placed in very specific locations, frustrating users and stifling creativity.
Aileen asked herself “How can I simplify this?” She first removed the coding system, making the images more simple, larger, and with no designated spot for each diamond. Then she removed the color code, allowing students to choose their own colors for the image. She then removed the image all together. Students had complete freedom over their art work. They were not bound by patterns, subjects, or color pallets. Now Aileen’s sticky blank slates are patent pending.
Unwind Designs has been at Mainframe Studios since 2024. Aileen is happy to provide a place geared toward youth, a gap she felt existed at Mainframe. She calls herself a creative entrepreneur, imaginatively solving problems.
“Now there is more language. You don’t always realize you’ve been doing it”. After she met students with physical impairments to their hands, Aileen’s pursuit of assistive technology began. After trying out tools from a 3D printing template, she now uses her 3D printer to refine designs, and create new ones. She is learning as she goes, and is always ready to simplify, and change the model again. She hopes to see more assistive technology in the classroom, as they are common in the occupational therapy world, but if students do not already have access to those programs, they may not learn about them in art class.
Aileen wants to do what she can to inspire everyone to get creative and make it easier to enjoy their day. “Life is hard. I’ve tried to open the door for something that anyone and everyone can do. Diamond painting is multigenerational. My 73 year old mother, my 16 year old son, and myself can all do it together. It is for all abilities, interests, and each piece is going to turn out different because it is unique to the artist”.
Unwind Design is located at Mainframe in Studio #433.
To view Aileen’s website please click here.
