When you're this tall, lots of things that most people take for granted just don't fit. Finding clothes is hard, fitting in cars and airplanes sometimes doesn't work, furniture doesn't measure up and a thousand other things are just hard to use. You can get an idea from this post.
The problem is not with me. Six foot six is a perfect size for me and it is part of who I am. The problem is with the everyday stuff people make.
Colleenifying something is designing and making it to fit people like me. It is encouraging designers and manufacturers to make tall practical products that are simple and beautiful. It is also making the world aware that there are lots of people in the world that have the same issues that I do.
Colleenifying is breaking the small minded 20th century notion that comes with design for mass production - that people must conform to design rather than customizing for individuals. Now a days it is possible to make more custom products and I know that there are companies out there ready for this challenge.
This can be for people of other sizes. I may be fourteen inches taller than the average American woman, but flip the design switch and colleenify something that fits someone who is fourteen inches shorter than the average American woman. How awesome would that be?
For now I'll look at ideas and products for tall people and really tall people like me. I love to hear your ideas and comments, so send them in!
The time has come for designers and manufacturers to grow up!
Wonderful website! Thank you for your crusade so to speak. I have been trying to fit into a small world for years - I'm 6'2" - it's ridiculous! I have a friend who furnishes in antiques when people were mostly 5' tall - I tease her about making me sit on doll furniture. I have to stoop to hold on when running on a treadmill. We could name a thousand things that make life harder for us. The cutting boards (why didn't I think of that!) are such a simple and wonderful solution! We need ideas that don't cost a fortune to make life more comfortable for us.
Posted by: Diana | January 22, 2010 at 07:28 AM
I think you are onto something here. I am pushing 6'5 and a powerlifter so I am tall and broad in the shoulders and so clothes which fit my upper body are like flapping sails at the waist, it's ridiculous.
Don't even mention airplanes since they are obviously designed for average-size six year olds.
Furniture, toilets, sink pedestals, tables, countertops, refrigerators, washers, dryers, desks, the list is exhaustive.
I think you are really onto something, and while I like the colleenifying concept, it could be a bit long for marketing purposes. I have a ton of ideas. I'll post later.
Posted by: Greg Wilson | January 28, 2010 at 07:51 PM