Intersection of Function and Form Through Convertibility in Women’s Outdoor Jackets
Additional Funding Sources
The Bridges to Baccalaureate program is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award No. R25GM123927. This research also received support from a student grant from the UI Office of Undergraduate Research.
Abstract
The global market for outdoor clothing accounted for 12.72 billion USD in 2018, and it is projected to reach 19.5 billion by 2026. Women made up 46.2% of all outdoor participants in 2020, and research indicates they desire adaptable clothing that can be used for different purposes. The goal of the “Intersection of Function & Form Through Convertibility in Women’s Outdoor Jackets” research project was to determine what features and shape would inform the design of a functional, on-trend jacket for women who participate in hiking activities. The objective of this research was to produce a functioning prototype jacket based upon data collected. Four objectives were used to meet this goal including (a) a research phase, (b) the synthesization of three types of research data into a jacket design, (c) a product development phase, and (d) the completion of a final jacket. Using an explanatory sequential design, 87 participants completed a survey to uncover general perceptions of jacket features and functions. Two participants were randomly selected for follow-up interviews. Survey and interview results indicated that participants wanted a jacket that was warm, durable, and lightweight for hiking, walking, and camping. The top three features desired were pockets, warmth, and a hood. The majority of participants indicated they wanted convertible features related to dimensional convertibility and a removable hood. The data was applied to the jacket design, patternwork, and to the construction of two prototypes. A final prototype was constructed, which included body-mapped insulation, concept-informed quilting, zip-off sleeves, a removable hood, elastic drawcords on the hood & hemline, and three zippered pockets including one internal.
Intersection of Function and Form Through Convertibility in Women’s Outdoor Jackets
The global market for outdoor clothing accounted for 12.72 billion USD in 2018, and it is projected to reach 19.5 billion by 2026. Women made up 46.2% of all outdoor participants in 2020, and research indicates they desire adaptable clothing that can be used for different purposes. The goal of the “Intersection of Function & Form Through Convertibility in Women’s Outdoor Jackets” research project was to determine what features and shape would inform the design of a functional, on-trend jacket for women who participate in hiking activities. The objective of this research was to produce a functioning prototype jacket based upon data collected. Four objectives were used to meet this goal including (a) a research phase, (b) the synthesization of three types of research data into a jacket design, (c) a product development phase, and (d) the completion of a final jacket. Using an explanatory sequential design, 87 participants completed a survey to uncover general perceptions of jacket features and functions. Two participants were randomly selected for follow-up interviews. Survey and interview results indicated that participants wanted a jacket that was warm, durable, and lightweight for hiking, walking, and camping. The top three features desired were pockets, warmth, and a hood. The majority of participants indicated they wanted convertible features related to dimensional convertibility and a removable hood. The data was applied to the jacket design, patternwork, and to the construction of two prototypes. A final prototype was constructed, which included body-mapped insulation, concept-informed quilting, zip-off sleeves, a removable hood, elastic drawcords on the hood & hemline, and three zippered pockets including one internal.