Stretchable, comfortable, and breathable sports sleeve featuring innovative integrated red light therapy electronics, which help recover the muscles after workout and provide skin care routine.
STITCHED
Red Lilypads
Red LEDs are placed in the most efficient ZigZag pattern and are connected by special flexible conductive fabric.
Lilypads LEDs are thin and do not irritate the skin.
Client
"Unleash the power of Light"
LightTreeVentures is at the forefront of LED light therapy, transforming healthcare and personal wellness with their advanced technology. The company's commitment to research and development brings high-quality, effective light therapy solutions to businesses and consumers alike.
Team #5 “BDSL”. My second design team in the IDE course contained only Dutch designers:
Lorenzo Bouman
Sem Geilenkirchen
Dorian Hofmann
And Bektemir Pratov
My Contribution
Project Duration: 4 months
Semester: Product Engineering
Project Time: H1 2023
Role: Industrial Designer
Define & Discover Phase
In the "Define" stage, designers identify and articulate the problem by understanding user needs, setting design criteria, and establishing project scope. This stage sets a clear, actionable problem statement to guide the design. Following this, the "Discover" stage broadens the designer's understanding through market and user research, technological exploration, trend analysis, and stakeholder feedback. This comprehensive approach ensures that designers are well-equipped with insights and a clear direction as they move forward in the design process, laying a solid foundation for innovation and solution development.
Problem Statement 💢
Current wearable light therapy products are less comfortable to wear due to its inability to stretch with the user's body and limits movability and comfort for the user while wearing the product.
Design Brief
Initial and redefined Problem statement
User & Client needs
Design Challenge
Vision
5WH
Requirements based on DVF
Hard and soft requirements
DESTEP Trend Analysis
Stakeholders Analysis
USER VALUES
Main Research Question ❓
What are the possibilities of combining stretchable electronics and 3D knitting to develop a light therapy sleeve with the correct placement of the LEDs? And what makes it easy to use, maintain and provide a comfortable fit and performance for athletes across different sports and activities?
Sub-research questions:
sRQ1: What technologies are there on the stretchable electronics market that could help us make our electronics in the sleeve stretchable?
sRQ2: Which existing techniques make it possible to interweave the electronics into the 3D knitted fabric, and what are their limitations?
sRQ3: To what extent are people willing to adapt to the concept of wearable light therapy products?
sRQ4: What is the best placements for the LED lights to energise the cells?
Research Report
Approach
Literature Review
Interview with Experts
Surveys
Research Results
References
Appendix
Design Goal 🎯
Current wearable light therapy products are less comfortable to wear due to its inability to stretch with the user's body and limits movability and comfort for the user while wearing the product.
Develop Phase
In the ideation stage, designers brainstorm, sketch, and prototype to explore and refine ideas. They seek feedback to improve their concepts, assess feasibility, and narrow down options to the most viable ones. This phase involves creativity and iteration, with detailed documentation of the process for further development.
Mind Map of the Initial Product
Pre-Ideation Documents
Brainstorming
SCAMPER
Sketching and Prototyping
User Feedback
Iteration
Variants of Wires Materials
Variants of Wires Patterns
Variants of Fabrics
Battery Placement
Battery placement based on the values of comfort and ease to use, but also battery type:
Li-Polymer battery 3.7V 2000mAh capacity
(LxWxH): 34,5 X 56 X 10,6 mm for arm and knee sleeve
(LxWxH): 9 X 30 X 35 mm for the ankle sleeve
40 grams
Visual Appereance
MATERIAL FOR WIRES - HARRIS PROFILE
insights
Maximum stretchability of the conductive fabric and conductive thread
Lower resistance when stretched
LEDs in series doesn’t work with conductive fabric
LEDs in parallel does work with conductive fabric
LED can work without thread
insights
Lycra (scuba) is the clear winner out of all materials, showing top performance in breathability, stretch, and feel. The Lycra finished third on breathability with only a single second in time difference, Lycra managed to score a first place on stretch ability, and another first place on user feel.
PROTOTYPES
RESULTS
extra insights
Battery & interface Placement - selecting
SELECTED PATTERN - ORGANIC
Replacement of
the adhesive film
Silicone coating
Overmolding
Liquid rubber
Stretch Fabric Glue
Fabric paint
layer of fabric over the conductive fabric
Pre-cut thinner lines of the film
Between two layers of the adhesive film
Small cuts in the film
Lay the conductive fabric on a small pre-cut piece of fabric (the shape of the circuit) which looks like a highway
skin-friendly LED
Use a softer, more flexible LED material
Use chip on board (COB) LEDs
Embed the LED chips deeper into the sleeve
Apply a coating on the LED chip
Add a layer of padding (volcano foam structure)
DIVERGING PHASE 2 DOCUMENT
Attaching conductive fabric to fabric - Research + Brainstorming
Replacement of the adhesive film - SCAMPER
LEDs non feelable - Research + Brainstorming
Cutting thin fabric - Research + Brainstorming
Making conductive fabric - Research
Attaching csf - SELECTING
prototyping
Deliver Phase
In the deliver stage of the design process, designers finalize prototypes, refine the design, prepare engineering documentation, and liaise with manufacturers to ensure the design is produced accurately. They also design packaging, create user manuals, ensure regulatory compliance, support market launch activities, and collect feedback. This stage is crucial for transforming design concepts into physical products ready for the market, requiring a close collaboration between designers, engineers, manufacturers, and marketing teams to ensure the product meets all functional, aesthetic, and regulatory requirements before and after its launch.
PACKAGE
POSTER
EXPO DAY
Our design project has achieved a remarkable success. Light Tree Ventures, a leading company in the field, recognized the innovation and potential of our product, leading to their adoption of our prototypes and documents to enhance their own product offerings. Their recognition didn't stop there; impressed by our team's ingenuity and hard work, Light Tree Ventures has extended offers to us to join their company after graduation, a testament to the value and impact of our work. Presently, a token of our achievement and collaboration—a box containing our project—proudly sits in the office of Light Tree Ventures, symbolizing our journey from concept to real-world application.
Engineering the solution, designing the experience
Pals & Palms
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for BS Toys
SteamBox Plus
Smart lunch box with gas permeable material
BillionBattles
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Stretchable, comfortable, and breathable sports sleeve featuring innovative integrated red light therapy electronics, which help recover the muscles after workout and provide skin care routine.
STITCHED
Red Lilypads
Red LEDs are placed in the most efficient ZigZag pattern and are connected by special flexible conductive fabric.
Lilypads LEDs are thin and do not irritate the skin.
Client
"Unleash the power of Light"
LightTreeVentures is at the forefront of LED light therapy, transforming healthcare and personal wellness with their advanced technology. The company's commitment to research and development brings high-quality, effective light therapy solutions to businesses and consumers alike.
Team #5 “BDSL”. My second design team in the IDE course contained only Dutch designers:
Lorenzo Bouman
Sem Geilenkirchen
Dorian Hofmann
And Bektemir Pratov
Project Duration: 4 months
Semester: Product Engineering
Project Time: H1 2023
Role: Industrial Designer
Define & Discover Phase
In the "Define" stage, designers identify and articulate the problem by understanding user needs, setting design criteria, and establishing project scope. This stage sets a clear, actionable problem statement to guide the design. Following this, the "Discover" stage broadens the designer's understanding through market and user research, technological exploration, trend analysis, and stakeholder feedback. This comprehensive approach ensures that designers are well-equipped with insights and a clear direction as they move forward in the design process, laying a solid foundation for innovation and solution development.
Problem Statement 💢
Current wearable light therapy products are less comfortable to wear due to its inability to stretch with the user's body and limits movability and comfort for the user while wearing the product.
Design Brief
Initial and redefined Problem statement
User & Client needs
Design Challenge
Vision
5WH
Requirements based on DVF
Hard and soft requirements
DESTEP Trend Analysis
Stakeholders Analysis
USER VALUES
Main Research Question ❓
What are the possibilities of combining stretchable electronics and 3D knitting to develop a light therapy sleeve with the correct placement of the LEDs? And what makes it easy to use, maintain and provide a comfortable fit and performance for athletes across different sports and activities?
Sub-research questions:
sRQ1: What technologies are there on the stretchable electronics market that could help us make our electronics in the sleeve stretchable?
sRQ2: Which existing techniques make it possible to interweave the electronics into the 3D knitted fabric, and what are their limitations?
sRQ3: To what extent are people willing to adapt to the concept of wearable light therapy products?
sRQ4: What is the best placements for the LED lights to energise the cells?
Research Report
Approach
Literature Review
Interview with Experts
Surveys
Research Results
References
Appendix
Design Goal 🎯
Current wearable light therapy products are less comfortable to wear due to its inability to stretch with the user's body and limits movability and comfort for the user while wearing the product.
Develop Phase
In the ideation stage, designers brainstorm, sketch, and prototype to explore and refine ideas. They seek feedback to improve their concepts, assess feasibility, and narrow down options to the most viable ones. This phase involves creativity and iteration, with detailed documentation of the process for further development.
Mind Map of the Initial Product
Pre-Ideation Documents
Brainstorming
SCAMPER
Sketching and Prototyping
User Feedback
Iteration
Variants of Wires Materials
Variants of Wires Patterns
Variants of Fabrics
Battery Placement
Battery placement based on the values of comfort and ease to use, but also battery type:
Li-Polymer battery 3.7V 2000mAh capacity
(LxWxH): 34,5 X 56 X 10,6 mm for arm and knee sleeve
(LxWxH): 9 X 30 X 35 mm for the ankle sleeve
40 grams
Visual Appereance
MATERIAL FOR WIRES - HARRIS PROFILE
insights
Maximum stretchability of the conductive fabric and conductive thread
Lower resistance when stretched
LEDs in series doesn’t work with conductive fabric
LEDs in parallel does work with conductive fabric
LED can work without thread
insights
Lycra (scuba) is the clear winner out of all materials, showing top performance in breathability, stretch, and feel. The Lycra finished third on breathability with only a single second in time difference, Lycra managed to score a first place on stretch ability, and another first place on user feel.
PROTOTYPES
RESULTS
extra insights
Battery & interface Placement - selecting
SELECTED PATTERN - ORGANIC
Replacement of
the adhesive film
Silicone coating
Overmolding
Liquid rubber
Stretch Fabric Glue
Fabric paint
layer of fabric over the conductive fabric
Pre-cut thinner lines of the film
Between two layers of the adhesive film
Small cuts in the film
Lay the conductive fabric on a small pre-cut piece of fabric (the shape of the circuit) which looks like a highway
skin-friendly LED
Use a softer, more flexible LED material
Use chip on board (COB) LEDs
Embed the LED chips deeper into the sleeve
Apply a coating on the LED chip
Add a layer of padding (volcano foam structure)
DIVERGING PHASE 2 DOCUMENT
Attaching conductive fabric to fabric - Research + Brainstorming
Replacement of the adhesive film - SCAMPER
LEDs non feelable - Research + Brainstorming
Cutting thin fabric - Research + Brainstorming
Making conductive fabric - Research
Attaching csf - SELECTING
prototyping
Deliver Phase
In the deliver stage of the design process, designers finalize prototypes, refine the design, prepare engineering documentation, and liaise with manufacturers to ensure the design is produced accurately. They also design packaging, create user manuals, ensure regulatory compliance, support market launch activities, and collect feedback. This stage is crucial for transforming design concepts into physical products ready for the market, requiring a close collaboration between designers, engineers, manufacturers, and marketing teams to ensure the product meets all functional, aesthetic, and regulatory requirements before and after its launch.
PACKAGE
POSTER
EXPO DAY
Our design project has achieved a remarkable success. Light Tree Ventures, a leading company in the field, recognized the innovation and potential of our product, leading to their adoption of our prototypes and documents to enhance their own product offerings. Their recognition didn't stop there; impressed by our team's ingenuity and hard work, Light Tree Ventures has extended offers to us to join their company after graduation, a testament to the value and impact of our work. Presently, a token of our achievement and collaboration—a box containing our project—proudly sits in the office of Light Tree Ventures, symbolizing our journey from concept to real-world application.
Engineering the solution, designing the experience
Pals & Palms
Outdoor game
for BS Toys
SteamBox Plus
Smart lunch box with gas permeable material
BillionBattles
RPG Card Game on Kickstarter
More Design Projects