Kristen Morris

Effect of firefighters' personal protective equipment on gait.

The biomechanical experiment with eight male and four female firefighters demonstrates that the effect of adding essential equipment: turnout ensemble, self-contained breathing apparatus, and boots (leather and rubber boots), significantly restricts foot pronation. This finding is supported by a decrease in anterior-posterior and medial-lateral excursion of center of plantar pressure (COP) trajectory during walking. The accumulation of this equipment decreases COP velocity and increases foot-ground contact time and stride time, indicating increased gait instability. An increase in the flexing resistance of the boots is the major contributor to restricted foot pronation and gait instability as evidenced by the greater decrease in excursion of COP in leather boots (greater flexing resistance) than in rubber boots (lower resistance). The leather boots also shows the greatest increase in foot contact time and stride time. These negative impacts can increase musculoskeletal injuries in unfavorable fire ground environments.

Design for Many, Design for Me: Universal Design for Apparel Products

ABSTRACT This study examined the potential of universal design in the field of apparel. The particular purpose of the study was to explore the use of the concept and principles of universal design as guidance for developing innovative design solutions that accommodate ‘inclusivity’ while maintaining ‘individuality’ regarding the wearers aesthetic tastes and functional needs. To verify the applicability of universal design in apparel products, two case studies of design practice were conducted, and the principles of universal design were evaluated through practical applications. This study suggests that universal design provides an effective framework for the apparel design process to achieve flexible and versatile outcomes. However, due to product proximity to the wearer, modification of the original definition and principles of universal design must be considered in applications for apparel design.

Development of a Nursing Sports Bra for Physically Active Breastfeeding Women Through User-Centered Design

Postpartum women who wish to engage in physical activity and breastfeed their children are at greater risk for breast soreness due to increased breast volume and sensitivity associated with breastfeeding. An apparel product that supports both good breastfeeding practices and physical activity has the potential to improve the health of both mother and child. The purpose of this research was to understand the design requirements of physically active breastfeeding women for a sports bra design. The researchers applied user-centered methods to develop a nursing sports bra prototype based on data from a focus group. The researchers created a two-layer bra concept to improve breast support and provide the convenience of nursing. Through wear trials, participants found the prototype to be successful in providing breast support with the added advantage of being able to nurse a child, resulting in a novel bra concept that addresses many needs of active breastfeeding women.

Expanding the Concept of Lead Users as Collaborators in Functional Apparel Design

When designing performance apparel, product developers often engage with users to ensure product appropriateness. The key problem is knowing which users have the potential to make valuable contributions in the apparel product development process. In this study, the authors explore lead users (LUs) as a subset of end users who have potential to develop innovative and commercially attractive products in other markets. In three sequential studies, the researchers explored LUs by first developing a measure to identify LUs. In the second study, product concepts developed by LUs in a collaborative design scenario were evaluated; and in the third study, prototypes of user-generated ideas were assessed in wear trials. This research was grounded in a functional design question of how to maintain thermal comfort during physical activity in cold weather. In the results of the studies, there was evidence that users who exhibit high LU and intrinsic motivation traits develop apparel designs that are highly evaluated by users.