Project Objective
To design a prophylactic knee brace for a specific sport with the brand language of a company that currently does not make knee braces.
This project was completed in the spring of 2015.
The Brand
The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation provided the brand language for this knee brace. All of the images to the right are of a Fender Squire Jazz Bass.
Brand Keywords
- Permanence
- Aspiration
- Illustrious
- Charm
- Seductive
- Endearing
- Dynamic
- Modular
- Symbiotic
- Supple
- Voluptuous
- Sumptuous
- Meticulous
- Ambitious
- Systematized
The Sport
Mogul skiing provided the functional requirements for this knee brace. The images on the left showcase skiers and the mogul skiing landscape.
Sport Keywords
- Calculated
- Meticulous
- Finesse
- Volatile
- Perverse
- Pernicious
- Oscillate
- Elasticity
- Capricious
- Clairvoyance
- Enigmatic
- Benefaction
- Fluid
- Rhythmic
- Metronomic
Persona
Survey data influenced the development of this knee brace's target user persona.
- Proficiency - Recreational skier
- Age - 35
- Gender - Male
- Proximity to a ski slope - Could drive to one in a day
Meet Lucas. He always looks forward to his annual winter snow trip. Each year he dusts off his Hart skis, packs his car, and drives to the slope with his closest friends. Reacquainting himself with the ice usually leaves Lucas sprawled on his back with his legs twisted in different directions, but, as time goes on, he grows more comfortable on the snow.
Ideation
One-third scale leg models were cast as canvases to ideate on. Clay models were used to develop form directly on the leg. Sketches were done over the lay models to further develop the base ideas.
User Needs to Consider
- Allows for flexibility
- Transmits load outside of the knee
- Withstand below freezing temperatures without losing functionality
- Not become waterlogged
- Work with other ski equipment (thermals, pants, boots, etc.)
Final Result
The final design incorporated the fluidity and asymmetry typical of Fender products.
The developed parts and materials list considers the functional needs of the brace as well as the design considerations of the brand and the sport.
The orthographic views and final model showcase the design aesthetics of the brace.
The refined Solidworks model shows the parts of the brace in more detail and gives more consideration to how the brace would be manufactured.
