RESEARCH STATEMENT
As a dedicated human scientist, my academic journey as a researcher over the past five years has been driven by passion and commitment to enhancing the well-being of people and the planet. My research centers on addressing significant societal and environmental issues within the apparel field. I strive to propose innovative solutions with a strong focus on functional and sustainable soft-good product development. In my work, I conduct in-depth qualitative research and creative design to understand the challenges and needs that users have with specific products. Through my research endeavors, I aim to contribute valuable insights to both the academic community and the apparel industry, helping to drive the development of more inclusive, user-centered, and environmentally conscious products.
RESEARCH PROJECT
Medical Isolation Gown
This isolation gown redesign project aims to identify the challenges and needs of healthcare workers regarding isolation gowns through various quantitative and qualitative methods, such as focus group interviews, range of motion analyses, and wear trials. These approaches will provide rich data to develop creative and innovative reusable isolation gowns that address the current problems of conventional gown design and provide better fit and comfort to healthcare professionals.
Figure of Nine Harness Redesign
This research project aimed to propose a redesign of the ‘Figure of Nine’ harnessing system for trans-radial prosthesis users. Based upon previous studies and prioritized elements identified through in-depth interviews, several design aspects were selected to guide the design process and assemble the prototype. The final design of the harnessing system successfully addressed the current users’ needs for size-adjustability, comfort, and breathability of the harness.
Zero-waste Wearable Art Design
This wearable art project integrates cultural design with a zero-waste design process. Despite the complexity inherent in cultural objects and wearable art, little research establishes a process that enables designers to effectively and efficiently incorporate their cultural identity into designs without generating excessive textile waste. This study proposes an effective design framework for cultural wearable art and evaluates its effectiveness by exploring various design projects.
RESEARCH STATEMENT
Sustainable Apparel Design: zero-waste patternmaking, upcycling apparel design, closed-loop design
Functional Apparel Design: adaptive apparel design, inclusive apparel design
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): medical apparel design
Participatory Design: user-centered design