The Future of Our Individuality?
The prosthetics industry is a fast-growing pathway to revolutionise the future of prosthetics. Scott Summit is an industrial designer who pursued a career redesigning an otherwise medical product, the prosthetic limb, after studying Political Science at The John Hopkins University, and Industrial Design and Fine Arts at San Jose State University in California, USA. The designer has focused his efforts on prosthetic limb design through Bespoke Innovations, a company founded in 2009 by Summit and orthopaedic surgeon, Kenneth Trauner. Bespoke Innovations specialises in the coverings of the prosthetic leg in 3-D form, to which it has worked with clients that include Nike, Apple, Samsung and Kodak. Using the consumer's requirements to create individuality, Scott's brand of design "hopes to change the way the world thinks of prostheses".
Scott Summit is an exceptional designer who puts all of his efforts into each and every design, in order to achieve more deference within society. He endures his ingenious vision of future prosthetics and meets his consumer's need. When asked what his inspirations were when creating the prosthetic leg, he avowed how he tries to infuse the individuality of his clients into each fairing that he creates, "not just in their shape, but in their attitude, their physique and their personal style - everything contributes to something intended to come a part of their body". Scott believes that a person's leg should exemplify their personality at the highest level, and through his 3-D prints, this future-provoking target can be achieved. Bespoke Innovations' process of creating fairings are made with the purpose of "start with the user and end with the product"; the three stages of scan, design and print depict an expression of each individual's personality. The 3-D scanning technology captures images of the 'sound side' leg and the prosthetic leg. After this, the consumer focuses on the design process; they can choose from an array of templates, materials, graphics and patterns to create their own style of prosthetics. They also have the opportunity to see how their end-result might materialise via 'Configurator'. Once this has been achieved, the printing process sees the end product being modified into something physical with flexible, lightweight and durable aspects to it.
Scott's innovative creations have brought a new lease of life to the prosthetics industry, which acknowledges the idea of these now becoming fashion statements, compared to other prosthetics that come across as uninspiring. Scott's successful career has risen from his creative theory, to "shift the focus of an industry and to change the way we interpret a product category". His 3-D motifs are part of the process of achieving this; by changing the way people perceive a prosthetic as a 'medical product'. Scott wants everyone to overlook the obvious connotations and to change their perception of the product and the life of the wearer into a thing go beauty with an inventive style about it. Scott has given a refreshing outlook and future to prosthetics, and for other industrial designers to identify and invent potential breakthroughs in areas of limb loss. He believes that this is one of the many areas "where quality of life may be improved with an infusion of design and technology". This is where he hopes to broaden this approach in the future.
When we hear about the latest technological advancements, we assume that it reflects on the object itself and the layering that characterises this new product. However, Scott declared his feelings towards the future prospect of the prosthetic limbs that "may become increasingly available to people in developing countries". This vision would create an enormous opportunity for individuals who are less fortunate to be given access to the latest fashion. Scott would be able to create an equal world, where all human forms can have the same opportunities as each other, in his eyes creating "a chance to make a world-changing impact". When objects go through the process of renovation and provoking thoughts for the future, it affects many areas and creates an exciting insight into the future of an industry. Scott's 3-D prints that cover most of his prosthetic limbs show a great deal of experimentation, but we all know that experimenting can carry on until the end of time. He believes that "one technology actually does not 'replace' another". Instead, they tend to disappear into another market, not necessarily staying in the same market and disappearing completely. Scott envisions a time in the future where a "leg may comprise a variety of technologies and materials, some 3-D printed, others created traditionally, some created organically". Discussing future materials instigated a thrilling insight into Scott's plans to creating his future prosthetics. He stated that how materials research continues to amaze him, how he is "looking forward to smart materials, which can adapt and deform based on demands". Scott also declared his thoughts on the process of bioengineering, where he hopes that there will be a combination of "low-cost/high quality" materials being offered to humans to establish the full meaning go rejuvenation.
Bespoke Innovations has an exciting forthcoming for the brand; Scott mentioned a recent announcement of "carpal tunnel and arthritis braces". This product will consist of a 3-D scan of the arm and result in "custom filigree patterns" that will allow "the skin to breathe and cool naturally". An enthusing beginning of an array of products that will define the future of this innovative brand, which seeks to create an 'on-demand' service to consumers that will hopefully improve "the quality of life and medical care for many people". Other industrial designers should be encouraged to persevere with his difference towards amputees and the industry.
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