EMBRACE ADAPTIVE COLLECTION
Design Overview
How could we create interchangeable prosthetic blade outsoles and adaptive legging bottoms to improve unilateral transtibial athlete don and doff times and traction, while also celebrating their unique experience in the Hood to Coast Race?
The EMBRACE collection is my current design work in progress. I was inspired by the first mixed adaptive athlete team So Every Body Can Move to complete the Hood to Coast relay race in 2021. I wanted to make sports products to better support unilateral transtibial athlete training and racing. From my research I discovered that athletes current prosthetic blade outsoles were designed for road and track surfaces but not for outdoor trail conditions. Likewise I learned that athlete needs were for a pair of running leggings that worked well with their donning and doffing of their prosthetic running and walking leg. Finally, I recognized that these athletes wanted products that expressed their individuality, and challenged societal stereotypes of the noble inspiration or tragic victim. Consequently, I designed a training and racing kit that enabled these athletes to wear apparel that reflects the complexity of their feelings. A training kit for when they did not want to attract unwanted attention and racing kit to inspire confidence on race day.
Course: Thesis Project
When: September 2023 to present 2024
Role: Researcher, Designer, Prototyper
Process: Athlete Research, Functional Prototype, Looks-like Prototype, Sketch, CAD patterning,
Tools: Clo3D, Rhino 3D, 3D Printing, Adobe Illustrator, Procreate, Keynote
