Concept | Computational Corset¶
5 Ws who, what, when, where, why¶
who¶
Me.
I have a congenital condition where my abdominal musculature is atrophied, and I need to wear a supportive belt for that. The condition is so rare that such a specific belt doesn't exist.
I usually pick up off-the-shelf belts and supports meant for back/lumbar supports or pregnancy supports. These are less than ideal.
what¶
A corset or belt.
Usually that can be worn under the clothing.
But ideally, is aesthetic enough to be worn as a garment in itself.
An interface that produces the design for this computationally.
A production process that takes the digital output and leads to the physical output, customizable to each individual body.
when¶
Now.
First cycle of iterations by March presenatations.
where¶
Crafted at the Somaiya School of Design Labs, The Little Oven's kitchen and food lab, and my studio.
why¶
The current belts have a list of issues that lead to various forms of discomfort :
- the edges rollover
- the sizes are not accurate
- the stretching is asymmetric so wearing them properly is a task
- bending down is difficult when wearing one
- ribs pop out and poke you
The current belts are also not wearable as an outer garment, which leads to
- difficulty in adjusting the belt when wearing it under outer clothing
- visible edges and bands
- can't put on and take off casually, need a changing room
Circling the concept¶
Images : Amazon.in
Images : Pinterest
My original doodles
Inspiration¶
ChatGPT Generated Moodboards for Steampunk Waistcoats, Corsets, and detailing
Biomimicry
To help ease bending and flexing in a rigid material, I'll be taking inspiration from nature, and medieval knight armor.
Pangolin
Armadillo
Woodlouse (Roly-poly / Pillbug)
Image Credits : Wikimedia.org