The future design direction of Smart Clothing development

Abstract

Literature indicates that Smart Clothing applications, the next generation of clothing and electronic products, have been struggling to enter the mass market because the consumers' latent needs have not been recognised. Moreover, the design direction of Smart Clothes remains unclear and unfocused. Nevertheless, a clear design direction is necessary for all product development. Therefore, this research aims to identify the design directions of the emerging Smart Clothes industry by conducting a questionnaire survey and focus groups with its major design contributors. The results reveal that the current strategy of embedding a wide range of electronic functions in a garment is not suitable. This is primarily because it does not match the users' requirements, purchasing criteria and lifestyle. The results highlight the respondents' preference for personal healthcare and sportswear applications that suit their lifestyle, are aesthetically attractive, and provide a practical function. Causal conditions A phenomenon Context Intervening conditions Action/interaction strategies Consequence Paradigm Model Causal conditions A phenomenon Context Intervening conditions Action/interaction strategies Consequence Paradigm Model Casual condition Smart Clothes need to gain social acceptance. They must fulfil emotional requirements as all clothes do. A phenomenon Adding fashion values Context People wear clothes according to their mood They require the same electronic functions everyday. Intervening conditions Smart systems cannot be embedded in every garment Electronic parts have a longer lifecycle than the clothes'. Action/interaction strategies Allowing user to personalise function and style by turning electronic parts into accessories, e.g. zip or button. Consequence The idea can be achieved with current technology Conflict between fast trend and long lifecycle is solved. Fashion designers' ideas Casual condition Smart Clothes need to gain social acceptance. They must be more practical and commercial. A phenomenon Adding values from users' point of view Context New functions must be worth for extra money. 'Smart' means doing what users want, not everything. Intervening conditions Applications must be easy to disassemble and dispose. New functions must be achieved by current technologies. Action/interaction strategies Providing functions that fit social trends, e.g. healthy lifestyle. Electronic parts must be customised and disassembled easily. Consequence Users may perceive Smart Clothes as a practical product. Users may be willing to pay extra for useful functions. Product designers' ideas Casual condition Smart Clothes need to gain social acceptance. They must fulfil emotional requirements as all clothes do. A phenomenon Adding fashion values Context People wear clothes according to their mood They require the same electronic functions everyday. Intervening conditions Smart systems cannot be embedded in every garment Electronic parts have a longer lifecycle than the clothes'. Action/interaction strategies Allowing user to pe...

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