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Hannah Fenton

Hannah Fenton

2020

I see design as a way to improve the lives and experiences of people. I am continuously looking for ways to push boundaries and disrupt the ordinary, whether through my designs or in my personal life. Getting uncomfortable, taking risks and being uncertain sometimes, gives me the greatest chance to explore and come up with new ideas.

In my third year at Humber, I had the opportunity to attend Umea Institute of Design in Sweden for an exchange semester. This was a challenge that forced me out of my comfort zone which was a turning point for me that changed the way I see design and how I want to experience life. Nature inspires me, and I find that some of my best ideas come to me when I'm outside being active and breathing in the fresh air. In an effort to improve the lives of people and their experiences, I aspire to encourage people to connect with the world around them and to experience the outdoors through design.

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Hannah Fenton

Comfort for Female Trekkers

This thesis proposal investigated the comfort, safety, and ergonomic requirements of female-specific trekking gear. Trekking is a popular and rewarding leisure activity enjoyed by both men and women, but current products are lacking in adequate female-specific solutions. Current female-specific products are often only size-adjusted male products, but neglect all of the other aspects that make female needs different from male needs. This thesis proposed an in-depth study of user interaction and functionality of existing trekking products using various methods of data collection, including literature review, interviews, contextual inquiries, and surveys. Analysis of this data was aimed at the experiences of users and increasing the comfort, safety and enjoyment in relation to where these products are being used and where concerns are present, including but not limited to load carriage, sleep, temperature and injury.

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comfort for female trekkers

Thesis Summary Video Award Submission

jacket animation

CAD Animation

jacket

Physical Model

Meeting the Four Thesis Pillars for Design Excellence

Enhancement of Human Lifestyle

Hyg provides increased comfort, safety and confidence to the user. It has the potential to increase trekking activity with women, and increase the safety and comfort of existing female trekkers.

Increasing safety and comfort in regards to heat, satellite navigation and sleep quality is valuable and beneficial to any female trekker where previous solutions were not existing. These features allow the user to feel safer, more confident and overall, more comfortable than compared to conventional outdoor garments. The features in Hyg eliminates the need for the user to carry a tent, sleeping bag or sleeping mat, which drastically decreases pack size and weight. This further contributes to the feeling of comfort and confidence, with increased freedom and power to move efficiently through the trek. The use of solar cell textiles integrated into the outer shell, allows the user to get power in any scenario. The thin and flexible battery packs allow movement and reduce weight further than traditional power storage. Satellite navigation provides further safety by having an emergency contact or first responders on call.

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Human-Interaction Design

Full-bodied human interaction design is considered throughout the full garment by allowing free range of motion in natural body movements and addressing key touchpoints in relation to sleep activities.

The garment covers the body from the neck down and features ergonomically placed inflatable sections for sleep. The buttons to inflate and call for help are embedded into the fabric for ease of access. Full-bodied human interaction design is a major consideration when designing a product intended for optimal comfort such as this one.

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Human Factors and Ergonomics

This design incorporates all body sizes from the 5th percentile to the 95th percentile. This is done through pattern grading where the pattern is sized up or down to fit between size XS and XL or smaller or larger depending on the person.

Through experimentation, the best location for padding for side sleeping was determined to be under the head, mid-back, under the legs, and between the legs. This elevates the hips from the ground and reduces stress on the spine and neck. For the back position, the best support was determined to be under the head/neck, lower back and under the claves. Inflatable panels are located so that the female hip area, lower back and waist area are adequately accommodated from sleeping positions. The inflation levels in these areas can be larger or smaller depending on the person, reducing the contact that the hips and buttocks have on the ground. The back, arms and legs have inflation level to allow side sleeper comfort while keeping the knee area separated for optimal spinal alignment. The hood features large inflation pockets to act as a conventional pillow would. This keeps the spine neutral again on either the back or the side.

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Sustainability

The key differences in material choice for this thesis project versus what is readily available in today’s outdoor equipment is the addition of smart textiles, heat elements and renewable energy sources. The renewable energy from the sun is applied in this design as a safety feature to the user and as a sustainability element.

Harnessing the sun's power as the user walks for hours outside each day is used as way for them to be self-sufficient for the entirety of their trip. The versatility of this design also encourages the purchase of only one garment to fit the needs of the user, rather than purchasing many different layers and garments that would be required for warmth otherwise. Textiles using recycled polymers are becoming more popular among mainstream brands, and things like biodegradable materials are also being seen to some extent. Materials and coating can be applied in ways to make garments waterproof, warmer, or more breathable. These are important to recognize as they all play a role in the comfort and effectiveness in the product.

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Accessibility in River Rapid Rides

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Improving Comfort for Female Trekkers

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