The process - Wearable technology in sport

Over the course of 6 weeks, I explored the profound effect wearable technology has had on sport, and how it will continue to develop in the future. Following the double diamond design framework, I worked through the discover, define, develop and deliver phases to present my insight into the future of wearable technology in sport.

Discover - Week 1

During the discover phase, I chose sport as my overarching field of interest. Sport is a passion of mine, and with my knowledge of new technologies within sport, I was confident that I could find some interesting talking points regarding the future. Researching the most interesting developments within sport was the first step in researching my topic. I spoke to some team mates about the design brief, who directed me to look at technological developments within footwear. This lead me to research an array of sub fields within footwear, including sustainability and wearable technology in running. After reading about the profound effect technology is having on athletes performance, I decided to look into athlete performance within sport.

Define - Week 2-3

With some generalized research in the overall field of sporting performance, it was time to refine my research into a more specific field. Wearable technology provided some unique and interesting discussion points surrounding athlete performance. Eluid Kipchoge, the Kenyan distance runner who broke the marathon world record last year, wore prototype Nike shoes that have been said to have enhanced his performance through innovative energy return technology. Stories similar to Kipchoge's have started to emerge with new technologies within sport, sparking the debate that technology has a stronghold on sport.

Precedence within the field of footwear helped me to refine my thinking, and after discussions with fellow sports enthusiasts, I defined my field within wearable technology and how it could influence athlete performance.

Develop - Week 4-5

Precedence within wearable tech and running provided a good starting point for in depth research. Part of our process was to interview experts within our chosen field, so I reached out to Chris Snyder, a former designer for Adidas and Nike. Our interview captured my imagination for the future of wearable technology in sport, showing the endless possibilities and benefits to athletes. Interviewing a true expert helped me to develop my vision for wearable tech in the future, shaping my insight. Further research into industry leaders and popular press revealed how sport is undergoing massive changes due to wearable technologies. Interviewing an expert and conducting in depth research gave me a crystallized insight into the future of wearable technology in sport.

'Wearable technology will vastly improve sporting performance'.

Deliver - Week 6

Tying together curated interviews with designer Chris Snyder and fellow sporting enthusiast Kelsey McCree, along with footage from Crystal Palace F.C and the All Blacks gave my claim depth. A three minute documentary illustrates the ways sport has changed, and how it will continue to change with new wearable technologies. Supporting this is a document that explains the rational behind my insight into the future, and potential avenues that designers could take to change sport in the future.

Overall, this process showed me how thought provoking it is to make an insight into the future. Without a hugely insightful interview with Chris Snyder, I would not have been able to achieve the depth seen in my insight document or documentary. Iterations of planning and development lead me to a topic full of potential in the future, and developing my vision through interviews and research helped to crystallize my insight.