Behind Wearable Design
Museum of Design’s Summer Exhibitions
The newest exhibitions at Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) highlight the latest wearable technology and human-centered design—think Google Glass or the Fitbit around your wrist.
This step-by-step design process involves finding a solution that is specific to that person’s needs, wants and limitations.
In “Beautiful Users: Designing for People,” almost 100 objects demonstrate the progression of how “user-centered design” has developed throughout the 20th century. The exhibit, organized by Smithsonian Design Museum, includes works spanning from the 1930s to modern day, multifaceted design models. Displays focus on objects designed for comfort and function, including the compact 1950s telephone that contained a light-up dial, and the Human Scale Measurement, a tool that determined how to ergonomically design for special populations such as children or elderly. “On You: Wearing Technology” was created through a collaboration by several of Georgia Institute of Technology’s departments. The exhibit showcases the eye-opening processes and hurdles that are part of making wearable computers: power and heat, networking, mobile input and displays. The exhibitions are currently open and will run through October 2.
STORY: Alexa Lampasona
Photo: Clint Zeagler
