Graphic Designer Uses Manfrotto Tripod and Apple Magic Trackpad to Work Hands-Free

Well, now we've seen everything. In this wild video, graphic designer Michelle Vandy shows off her — ahem — unique technique for working without the use of hands. Vandy developed this unusual workflow in order to combat her RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury), and with it she is able to take movement of her arms and hands virtually out of the picture. She further credits this method with subtly influencing her design work.

What do you think, will you be setting down your Wacom stylus any time soon? In all seriousness it's awesome to see people overcoming obstacles to continue doing the work they love.

Be sure to check out Vandy's work, you won't be disappointed.

[via Michelle Vandy & Laughing Squid]

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Austin Rogers joined Fstoppers in 2014. Austin is a Columbus, OH editorial and lifestyle photographer, menswear aficionado, pseudo-bohemian, and semi-luddite. To keep up with him be sure to check out his profile on Fstoppers, website, drop him a line on Facebook, or throw him a follow on his fledgling Instagram account.

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21 Comments

I hate to be cynical as I generally enjoy the posts here and try to project positivity as much as possible...but

Good for her, I guess. lol

Ignoring Michelle's somewhat useful promotional video for people with disabilities, the field is ripe to make a satire about absurdly gimmicky promotional videos done by videographers.

I'm imagining a video of an entire room full of designers learning this method. Also, they would be using their hands to do things they weren't free to do before :D

A sweet and short but powerfull portrayal of her personality and talent. I love photography because one image can hit you in the face and open up worlds of ideas and inspiration. I rarely get this same sensation from a video becuase they often draw on to long with fluff and poor production choices thereby diluting the message. This short shows how much of an impact can be made in video with the right combination of timing and elements. Her work is deeply rich also. Thanks for the share!

Yeah but her nose isn't pressure sensitive..

That's really a unique awesome work on her behalf, this is a beautiful talent and exceptional

That's awesome
And I thought I was crazy trying to program my leap motion for lightroom.

I'm impressed! All I can say is wow!

Wow, amazing. I just hope she doesn't share her trackpad.

hmm

I guess that could inspire someone that is paralyzed, otherwise I don't really see the point. Interesting comibination of an English and American accent. I wonder which came first.

I use my Apple Magic Trackpad with a Dagi P301 stylus in Lightroom to easily zoom in and out and edit with the spot removal tool and the adjustment brush. Works great, right down to the pixel level. No need for a graphics tablet and far, far better than just using a mouse alone, when trying to do finely detailed edits.

The accent is half Finnish and half Kiwi, according to her website.

The Kiwi part is understandable but the rest of it is American English. I don't see why being Finnish would make her also sound American.

Many Europeans pick up an American English accent via TV, in that part of the world imported shows are usually not dubbed.
Here in the UK it's quite common to meet Europeans speaking in a strange European Language-American hybrid.

Sure, I never said I didn't understand how her American accent could come about.

Well... To each their own... But that makes my neck hurt watching her. I would think it would be better for her neck if she raised the laptop up about a foot or so.

WOW, now just imagine what she would be capable of if she used her hands.

As someone who has suffered from RSI for many years, I can relate. In some cases, my hands had swollen to nearly twice their normal size, and were very painful. I now have neck problems from computers, so I don't really see this, or as Wayne says, her monitor position as being much better, but I can understand.

I do wonder, however, what she does if her nose is running...

pretty interesting, but must get messy if and when she gets a cold with a runny nose.

"And it's not that noticeable on your face."

Okay, it may be just me being cynical. . . but is this a joke? I opened the video to make sure it wasn't published on April 1st. Even using 'just your nose' you still use hold hot keys, which is rarely done in the video. Plus, why? Too lazy to use your hands? . . . to each there own. But still weird (if its true)