(where Left is Right)
Welcome to Leftorium, where the 10% of us who are left-handed are finally in the majority! The name is a playful nod to a famous "Simpsons" episode, and much like its animated counterpart, Leftorium is a place where all things left-handed are celebrated and, in our own unique way, made available. Our mission is to shine a light on the daily, often unnoticed, challenges of navigating a world designed for the right-handed.
Righteous & Left Behind
Ever felt like an afterthought in a world of right-handed scissors, can openers, and even spiral notebooks? That feeling of being "left behind" is the very reason this website exists. For the 90% of the population who are right-handed, the world just works. But for lefties, simple tasks can become a frustrating puzzle. This is our stage to humorously and thoughtfully showcase a series of "products" that highlight and solve these everyday problems.
Left is Right
Here at Leftorium, we firmly believe that left is right. Our goal is to call attention to the myriad of ways our world is built for right-handed convenience. From the direction zippers close to the design of school desks, the right-handed bias is everywhere. While our "products" may be conceptual, the problems they aim to solve are very real.
Did you know that approximately 10% of the global population is left-handed? That's over 780 million people who often have to adapt, contort, and make do with tools not designed for them. This can range from the merely annoying, like smudging ink while writing, to the genuinely hazardous when operating certain power tools.
Consider these common right-hand-centric designs:
- Scissors: The blades are oriented for right-handed use, making it difficult for lefties to see their cutting line and apply proper pressure.
- Spiral Notebooks: A classic lefty nemesis, the spiral binding gets in the way of natural hand placement, forcing an uncomfortable writing position.
- Can Openers: The cranking mechanism and gear placement are designed for right-hand operation, turning a simple kitchen task into an awkward maneuver.
- Computer Mice: While settings can often be adjusted, the ergonomic design of many mice is contoured for the right hand.
- Vegetable Peelers: Most peelers are designed to be pulled towards the user with the right hand, making them inefficient and sometimes dangerous for lefties.
Through our curated showcase of "products," we hope to foster a greater understanding and appreciation for the challenges faced by the left-handed community. Our aim is to spark conversation and encourage a more inclusive approach to design in the real world. So, have a look around, share a laugh, and perhaps see the world from a slightly different, left-handed perspective.