A design process for the development of innovative smart clothing that addresses end-user needs from technical, functional, aesthetic and cultural view points

The research and development of attractive smart clothing, with truly embedded technologies, demands the merging of science and technology with art and design. This paper looks at a comparatively new and unique design discipline that has been given little prior consideration. The concept of ´wearables´ crosses the boundaries between many disciplines. A gap exists for a common ´language´ that facilitates creativity and a systematic design process. Designers of smart clothing require guidance in their enquiry, as gaining an understanding of issues such as; usability, manufacture, fashion, consumer culture, recycling and end user needs can seem forbidding and difficult to prioritise. This paper presents a design tool in a format that can be understood by practitioners who come from a range of backgrounds. The representation of the ´critical path´ is intended as a tool to guide the design research and development process in the application of smart technologies.