Silver Industry Award Winner - Launchpad Plus 2019 - Georgia Tech School of Industrial Design
Overview.
Roles
Product Designer
UI/UX Designer
Sewist
Ballistic is a neo-futuristic clothing collection designed to provoke critical thought and discussion around the issue of gun violence. Developed in response to observations of increased saturation of ballistic-grade and bulletproof materials in the clothing sector, the collection aims to generate a sense of realism for a potential future through fashion.
Tools
Adobe Creative Cloud (Ai, Ps, Id, Lr, Xd), InVision, Sewing Machine
Completed
Spring 2019
— THE FUTURE IS POLITICAL.
In a world of political expediency, commercialism functions as a litmus test for societal need. Fashion has always been, and will continue to be, bold in its choices. Reacting to gun violence is no different.
— THE FUTURE IS TRANSPARENT.
Practically, transparency is a key contribution to increased efficiency and perceived sense of safety. Sartorially, transparent materials accentuate the body in exciting and interesting ways. Clear couture is both functional and fashionable.
— THE FUTURE IS BALLISTIC.
What’s in a name? Polyaramid straps and ceramic marry to create unconventional, ballistic garments. Whoever said fashion isn’t practical?
Research.
The inspiration for this project came from research indicating a trend in the product sector revolving around the incorporation of ballistic-grade and bulletproof materials into clothing, furniture, and accessories. If trends indicate an increasingly accommodating commercial environment to combat gun violence in society, the question is: what would a potential future look like in this reality? The goal was to view this question through the lens of fashion, incorporating well-known related materials like Kevlar and transparent nylon to encourage critical examination of this possible future.
Kevlar (Polyaramid Fiber)
Perhaps the most well known material associated with bulletproof clothing, Kevlar is a layered, woven polymer-based fabric with a high tensile strength.
Ceramic
Kevlar alone isn’t always capable of fully stopping a bullet. On bulletproof vests, pockets are created for ceramic inserts. The combined strength of kevlar and hardiness of ceramic absorb the shock of the bullet to prevent penetration.
Transparent Nylon
In recent years, entertainment venues, sports arenas, and even schools have increasingly implemented clear bag policies to enhance safety. Those bags are constructed from transparent plastic for full visibility.
Ideation.
An initially street-style, functional aesthetic gave way to a higher fashion approach. Kevlar, ceramic, and transparent vinyl drove the ideation process. Material properties subsequently influenced construction of the garments, by mimicking woven kevlar fibers and placing strategic, tasteful windows to showcase the body.
Prototyping.
Early exploration revealed the characteristics of the materials and influenced the structure and construction of the garments.
Physical.
Exploration began by practicing patterning and garment construction. Materials were subsequently run through the sewing machine to examine how they behaved, taking special note of difficulties associated with layering/thickness. Rough cuts of garments were completed to measure fit and aesthetic, and the pieces chosen for final construction were based on the results.
Digital.
Early work on an interactive web store was also begun as an aspect of brand development, along with preliminary work on print design and logo exploration.
Construction.
Sewing, 3D printing, and painting were all utilized to create a diverse collection of garments and accessories.
Woven Tunic
Torso coverage with aesthetic flare and layered, woven strength.
Clear Kimono-Cut Jacket
Transparent jacket aesthetically cut to form.
Clear Tote with Contrast Taping and Handles
A clear bag with support.
Harness
Upper-chest coverage with real leather straps and 24k gold fasteners.
Clear Cropped Trouser
Opaque where you need it, transparent to show off your legs.
Shades
3D printed custom fit shades with bullet-resistant lenses.
Adjustable Belt
Brand Development.
The collection itself is defined by cautious futurism and adaptation. The clothes are cautious in their use of functional, protective, and efficient materials, and represent a lifestyle adaptation to a problem. At the same time, the line seeks to be bold in its designs to generate discussion and critical thought.
These principles helped define brand hallmarks: logo, typography, and color scheme.
Logo
Both font and color choices were represented in the logo and corresponding slogan. The yellow circle represents a projectile, while the black path indicates the cyclical nature of the issue. The yellow slash gives the illusion the logo has become a null sign, indicating the cycle can be broken.
Typography
To reflect modernity and futurism, the sans serif font, Futura, was chosen. Variations of thickness within the font family were selected for primary, secondary, and tertiary distinctions.
Color
Boldness and caution were reflected in the choice of bright yellow as a primary color. The remainder of the color palette was kept minimal, with black and white being the companion colors.
Collection.
Color.
Keeping consistent with brand colors, yellow and black are the primary colors in the collection. Yellow is of particular importance, as it invokes caution or warning.
Transparency also played a significant role in communicating the message and purpose of the line. It helps convey the concept of efficiency and provides an increased sense of perceived safety.
Materials.
For reasons of practicality, affordability, and sourcing, the intended structural materials of kevlar and ceramic were not used within the collection. Instead, an abrasive and weather-resistant yellow polyester tow strap was substituted for kevlar, while marble took the place of ceramic. Transparent vinyl comprised the construction of all clear garments and accessories, and the various iterations of sunglasses were 3D printed in Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).
Finish.
Straight stitching in a matching thread color adorns most of the collection, with contrast stitching and fabric highlighting interesting features, such as the adjustable tunic straps. The harness is finished in polished marble, accented by tan leather straps and 24k gold fasteners. Shades are finished with a gloss paint in yellow or black and a smoky acrylic lens. The ends of the arms are coated in a black rubber, for added non-slip grip.
Lookbook
A further extension of the development of the Ballistic brand, the Lookbook functions as a catalogue to exhibit the collection in a print format. The layout follows a minimalist design to reflect the minimalism found in the collection, as well as ensuring full focus on the products.
Ballistic lookbook rendered in magazine format.
Ballistic Online.
Laying out a webstore was important to encourage realism in the project. A simple, high-fidelity prototype goes a long way in drawing the audience into the fabricated reality to generate the desired effect: critical thought and discussion around the issue.
High fidelity UI/UX mockup of retail/brand site. Created in Adobe XD. Video compiled in Premiere Pro.
Takeaways
Sewing is difficult. That may sound like such a simple takeaway to begin with, but the majority of my challenges revolved around the construction of the products themselves. Coming into this project, I had just learned how to use a sewing machine, so there was a steep learning curve. I had to make quite a few mistakes to learn how to begin to properly construct my pieces.
But part of my reasoning for taking on this project was to challenge myself and get out of my comfort zone. Ultimately, the difficulties I encountered provided me with vastly more sewing experience, while also honing my branding and graphic design work.
If I’d had more time, I would’ve liked to make a couple of shirts, another pair of trousers, and a mac or trench. I’d also have liked to really polish the pieces I already had (i.e. straighter stitches, clean edges, stitched logos/tags). With a bit more time, a few more iterations, and some additional funding I could’ve elevated the collection to a true (fake) couture line.
That being said, I’m pleased with the end result and the amount of pieces I was able to produce. But as designers, we’re cursed to always ask ourselves what we could’ve done differently. Maybe down the road I’ll revisit this project, but I think my sewing machine and I need some time apart.