Design and Product Development

Custom Paralympic Shooting Jacket: A Single-Case Virtual Product Development Project

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Abstract

While it is fairly easy for able-bodied Paralympic Shooting athletes to find shooting jackets that meet their various needs, it is not the case for Paralympic athletes. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to develop a custom shooting jacket for a Paralympic Shooting athlete who uses a wheelchair and has qualified for the upcoming Paralympics. In this single case study design, the resulting shooting jacket was developed through a User-Centered Design Process, starting with a semi-structured interview aimed at understanding the athlete’s needs. The top four themes that emerged from a thematic analysis of the interview data were: History of Jacket, Appearance, Colors, and Body Fit. These themes drove the jacket design. The researcher developed a 3D virtual prototype of the jacket using CLO3D and a 3D body scan of the participant. Physical jacket prototyping was developed using a custom half-scale dress-form of the participant in a seated position. 

Keywords: user centered design, adaptive apparel, disability, custom, Paralympic Shooting, design, 3D, activewear, sportswear

How to Cite:

Hobbs, K. & Morris, K. D., (2020) “Custom Paralympic Shooting Jacket: A Single-Case Virtual Product Development Project”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 77(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.12220