NIKE
P R O-C O M B AT keep your head in the game
SHELL
TECH
THESE
ARE
N
Current youth football equipment is not d players. Can redesigning their gear help red
OT
THE
SAME
designed for the specific needs of youth duce the risk of concussion in youth players?
PHASE
1:
RESEARCH
Worked closely with nursing student Kevin Gibony to learn more about concussions and how they affect youth players.
ER visits for concussion-like symptoms in football players aged 8-13 has doubled in the last 10 years.
At age 12, a youth’s head is 95% that of an adults while their neck is only 85%
PHASE
2:
GET
OUT
THERE
Went to several youth football games to obser ve and talk to parents, coaches, and players
ONE
SIDE
DOESN’T
FIT
ALL
On many youth teams there’s a wide discrepency in player size. Youth players need gear that can be customized to their size.
IMPROPER
FIT
Improper fit is a major issues with youth players.
“He was hit after the play and his head hit the turf hard.� - parent of concussed 7th grade Eager Beaver player
PHASE
3:
SKETCHING
Exploring concepts in 2D and 3D
INSPIR
Layered Materials, Repetive Patterns, PU Ca TPU, Speed Sk
RATION
ast, Poron Impact Absorbing Foam, Hot Melt kating Apparel
PHASE
4:
VA L I D AT I O N
Showed initial concepts to athletic trainers, medical professionals, and youth players to get feedback
ATHLETIC
TRAINER
Met with Joe Hacker, a high school athletic trainer, to receive feedback regarding how the product would effect safety protocal for an injured player
SAFETY
FIRST
The product can’t interfere with safety protocal. The materials used should be easy to cut and not interfere with x-rays.
WHAT
KIDS
WA N T
1. Comfort 2. Aesthetics 3. Easy to remove/put on 4. Ventilation
PHASE
5:
REFINING
Revisited my design to make corrections based on feedback received during validation
Exploring Different Blocking Patterns
DRY FIT FABRIC
EXO-SHELL TECH TO STRENGTHEN SPINE
BREATHABLE MESH
HOT MELT TPU FOR LATERAL FORCE REDUCTION
PORON r INTEGRATED PADDING
PHASE
6:
PROTOTYPING
Experimented with Laser cuting Poron impact absorbing foam
Flex Pattern Exploration
Material Samples
Developing the Pattern
Developing the Pattern
Refiniing the Pattern
Sewing the final model
Poron Foam Shell helps reinforce and stabilize a youth’s spine