prototype 8

 prototype 8:

By combining prototype 5 and 8 , we get a layered material that has a hard shell and a soft inlay.

Elements of experience:

Positive expected:softer

Positive unexpected: 

Negative expected:

Negative unexpected:

#	Time	#parts	#materials	# tools
8	30s	3	fabric silicone polyester	/

prototype 7

 prototype 7:

because the shell was harder then expected, we added a second layer of the fabric to act as padding.

Elements of experience:

Positive expected: softer

Positive unexpected: 

Negative expected:

Negative unexpected:

#	Time	#parts	#materials	# tools
7	30s	2	fabric, polyester	scissors

prototype 6

 prototype 6:

We made a hard shell from the inside of prototype 1, we did this by impregnating fabric with polyester. by using a thicker fabric , we hope to achieve a softer backside.

Elements of experience:

Positive expected:hard outside shell

Positive unexpected: 

Negative expected: fabric inside is harder then expected

Negative unexpected:when the leg isn't bend, the shell is pushing against the leg.

#	Time	#parts	#materials	# tools
6	10 min	1	fabric, polyester	scissors, polyester

prototype 5

 prototype 5:

we are testing how a thin silicone patch feels .

the silicone makes the surface softer, but also more slippery. The silicone also adds a lot of friction, making it impossible to slide around.

Elements of experience:

Positive expected:softer surface

Positive unexpected: stretchable

Negative expected: strange feeling (gel feeling)

Negative unexpected:adds a lot of friction

#	Time	#parts	#materials	# tools
5	10 min	1	silicone	casting silicone

prototype 4

 prototype 4:

by combining prototype 2 and 3 we get prototype , a flexible but harder front and a soft foam as backing. the harder material distributes the forces more across the foam, while the foam adjusts to the shape of the knee.

Elements of experience:

Positive expected: forces are distributed more

Positive unexpected: 

Negative expected:thick

Negative unexpected:debris is still noticeable

#	Time	#parts	#materials	# tools
4	30s	2	foam , carpet	scissors

prototype 3

 prototype 3:

A piece of carpet has a harder side and a softer side, we cut a piece of it and test it

Elements of experience:

Positive expected:

Positive unexpected: 

Negative expected: you can still feel rocks, and debris

Negative unexpected:

#	Time	#parts	#materials	# tools
3	30s	1	carpet	scissors

prototype 2

 prototype 2:

We are testing the effectiveness of simple soft foam, the prototype only tests material and not the shape or size

Elements of experience:

Positive expected:

Positive unexpected: 

Negative expected: you can still feel rocks, and debris

Negative unexpected:

#	Time	#parts	#materials	# tools
2	30s	1	foam	scissors

prototype 0

This is a benchmark we got from Feline, these kneepads are designed for the construction business.
* the strap breaks too fast
* the strap is uncomftable
*size
*sometimes to much friction
*the material crumbles

Elements of exerience:

Positive expected:

Positive unexpected: 

Negative expected:to big

Negative unexpected: strap breaks too fast

#	Time	#parts	#materials	# tools
0	0min	2	Geëxpanded PU Rubber	/

prototype 1

This is an other benchmark we got from Feline. These are knee protectors used in the vollyball. These ones where the first she used this summer but because it wasn't hard enough she went on to prototype 0.

Elements of experience:

Positive expected: can be worn under pants, isn't big

Positive unexpected: 

Negative expected: isn't thick enough to rule out the feeling of the underground

Negative unexpected:

#	Tijd	#parts	#materialen	# tools
0	0min	1	fabric	/

First talk

First encounter,

we talked about the used kneecaps and why they didn't satisfy there needs and what they see as an ideal kneecap.
Here is a list that they mentioned, the kneecap has to be:

• flexible
• with some friction with the ground for on stairs, but not to much so it's easy to go around with
• adjustable, it has to work with different pants
• thick so you don't feel it when the underground is rough, bumpy or stony
• not to big, it has to have a certain elegance to it.
• wearable under and above pants. She likes it under the pants because you see it less, but then the pants worn out pretty fast.
• uses inside as outside. 
• used in summer and winter. So it has to deal with sweat and cold.
• with easy and painless straps.

Project definition

Our client is Feline, a girl of 17 that has MS. Due to this, she has problems standing on her legs because the instability of her underlegs.

At home she goes around on her knees and for that she uses knee pads.
She tested the ones that floor layers use and volleyball players, but each one has his own negative points.


We are assigned to design with her, her personal knee pads that are optimised for her usage.