Geoffrey Chen

TOHU, Commemorating Resilience through Connection, Reflection, and Meaningful Design.

Tohu is an empowerment care package designed to celebrate amputees who are beginning to use their prosthetics. It marks a key milestone in rehabilitation through a bespoke stamp and holder, uniquely created for each recipient. The holder is modelled on the amputee’s first prosthetic socket, an object deeply personal and symbolic of resilience and growth.

The product serves two purposes: first, as a commemorative token that honours how far an amputee has come; and second, as a symbolic connection to the wider amputee community. Each stamp face features a native New Zealand flower, representing either upper or lower limb amputees. A card included in the package allows a peer support mentor to add their own seal, transforming the gift into a shared and meaningful gesture.

Beyond its symbolism, Tohu supports peer support programmes, helping mentors build stronger bonds with new amputees after their first visit. It offers positive encouragement during the early stages of rehabilitation, when confidence and motivation are most fragile. By immortalising the moment an amputee receives their first prosthetic socket, Tohu transforms recovery into a lasting symbol of empowerment, reflection, and belonging.