Bespoke Bodies

Bespoke Bodies: The Design & Craft of Prosthetics

Museum Curation Exhibit Learning Guide

Welcome!

Welcome to the Bespoke Bodies exhibit! This exhibit explores the intersection of technology, design, and the human body, with a focus on adaptive fashion and how it can improve the lives of people with disabilities or medical conditions.

In this lesson plan handout, we have curated a selection of resources that will help you deepen your understanding of the exhibit themes and continue your learning journey beyond the museum walls.

Read: A Brief History of Prosthetic Limbs

This article briefly overviews the history of prosthetic limbs from ancient Egypt to the present day. It highlights the technological advancements and social changes that have influenced the development of prosthetic technology.

As you explore the exhibit, you'll notice the many types of prosthetic limbs. This resource will provide a historical context for these devices, helping you understand how they have evolved.

WATCH:

Elise Roy: When we design for disability, we all benefit

In this TED Talk , accessibility consultant and human rights lawyer Elise Roy discusses the importance of designing for disability and how it can benefit everyone. She shares her experiences with disability and how they have influenced her work as a designer and advocate.

Adaptive fashion is all about designing for the unique needs and abilities of different people. This TED Talk will give you a deeper understanding of the importance of designing for accessibility and how it can benefit everyone.

Listen: 99% Invisible: The Athletic Brassiere

This podcast episode explores the history of the sports bra, a garment initially designed to provide support and comfort for female athletes. It highlights how design can improve performance and quality of life.

The Bespoke Bodies exhibit features several examples of adaptive athletic wear. This podcast episode will help you understand the history and design principles behind one of the most important pieces of athletic clothing: the sports bra.

EXPLORE: Open Style Lab

Open Style Lab is a nonprofit organization that brings together designers, engineers, and occupational therapists to create innovative solutions for people with disabilities. Their website features a portfolio of past projects and information about their design process.

Adaptive fashion is a rapidly evolving field, and Open Style Lab is at the forefront of this movement. This resource will give you a sense of the wide range of possibilities and design solutions that are emerging in this field.

Design a Fashion Line for Diversity

In this group project, you and your classmates or colleagues will work together to design a fashion line that celebrates diversity and inclusivity.

Each member of the group can choose a specific disability or medical condition to design for, such as designing clothing for wheelchair users or those with hearing impairments. The group can work together to create sketches or digital renderings of their designs and present their fashion line to the class or a panel of judges.

This activity encourages collaboration, creativity, and active learning while also promoting inclusivity and understanding of diverse needs.

Inclusive Design Audit

In this assessment, you will conduct an inclusive design audit of a public space, such as a museum or a park. You should look for features that make the space accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities or medical conditions.

After the audit, you can create a report or presentation that outlines your findings and recommendations for improvement.

This assessment encourages you to apply your knowledge of adaptive fashion and design in a real-world context while also developing your assessment and communication skills.