Design as an assist for the win

Shin guard for prostheses

THESIS, POSITIVE DESIGN

My graduation project explores the challenges amputee preteens face in participating in contact sports, particularly soccer. Despite the functional capabilities of their prostheses, many preteens feel insecure on the field, viewing their prostheses as unsuitable for exercise.

This project was graded with a 9.5/10 and featured in the April 2023 edition of Dutch Journal of Positive Psychology in a review written by Pieter Desmet.

I designed a sports cover that promotes a positive shift in how children view their prostheses, boosting their confidence and encouraging participation. The cover's compliant mid-layer also provides protection for other players by dampening oncoming impact.

Snap on the soccer cover onto the prosthesis.

2. Buckle in the straps together on the back for added security

3. Ready to play

Designing for latent needs and tacit experiences

A key driver for me as a designer is giving unexpressed knowledge a seat at the table, which is why designing for children was a challenge I enthusiastically undertook for my thesis. The resulting product is a simple design that addresses a significant problem that was unknown to all but the people affected by it.

INTERSECTING PRODUCT & CONTEXT

As children differ from adults in their cognitive, emotional and language skills, it is often challenging to interview them about their experiences. I employed emotion driven design methods to understand the sources of unmet or unvoiced needs, priorities and preferences children have.

Two distinct categories of products exist for children: 'daily' prostheses that allow for flexibility in movement and "sports" prostheses that can handle a lot of force, but lack stability and comfort required for everyday use. Neither category offered any personalization, which is crucial for preteens' psychological wellbeing.

DESIGN

Overall form and visual style, backed by the engineering choices made to fulfill functional requirements

My research in developmental psychology showed that preteens have fragile social identities. To strike the right balance between standing out and having a unique style, I drew inspiration from visual elements and materials used in professional soccer, sports celebrities, and streetwear.