Richmond, B.C. – A combination of fashion and safety, Eva Garcia Mockford’s Lumen Jacket is a light at the end of the tunnel for cyclists travelling dark winter roads.
Designed with electroluminescent materials, the stylish jacket provides cyclists with a bright safety feature different from the reflective material found on most cycling gear today: with its active lighting system, the Lumen Jacket's 'light' can be turned on and off, making it unperceivable when not deployed.
“I am really excited about how designers can use technology to compliment bigger changes that are happening in our world with products. I'm doing this by introducing safety features into urban street wear for cycling without compromising the aesthetics,” said Garcia Mockford, a graduating student from Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s (KPU) Wilson School of Design.
Applying her past degrees in sociology and visual arts to her project, Garcia Mockford connected with MIT’s media lab and attended the university’s Disrupting Mobility Global Summit and Design Hackathon where she was able to further investigate sustainable futures thanks to funding from the Wilson School of Design Vision Execution Fund.
Her Lumen Jacket was created as her final capstone project in KPU’s post-baccalaureate technical apparel design program, which will be showcased alongside the graduate-level work of her peers at KPU Richmond this Saturday.
“The capstone projects are about the process and finding solutions to real problems,” said Evelyn May, technical apparel design program coordinator. “This program is a convergence of human-centered design with strategic design methodologies that create added value in performance apparel.”
Students in the program apply bachelor’s degrees from a variety of fields to a one-year intensive program that gives them the chance to learn how to make a difference in the technical apparel industry by adding value to existing products.
“The students make informed design decisions based on a combination of user feedback and market research and then test their decisions to prove their concepts,” said Dan Robinson, a Wilson School of Design faculty member.
“What I’m doing for my final capstone project in the technical apparel design program is very much research and studio work skills that build on my previous education,” added Garcia Mockford.
Last year’s graduates all received industry employment as senior product developers, research assistants, technical designers, inventors and more. The work of the 2015 graduating class will be on display Dec. 5 and will consist of two components: the design process and journey, and the final prototypes. For details, visit kpu.ca/technicalapparel/capstone2015.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University has served the Metro Vancouver region since 1981, and has opened doors to success for more than 200,000 learners. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs in business, liberal arts, design, health, science and horticulture, trades and technology, and academic and career advancement. Over 19,000 students annually have a choice from over 120 programs, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, citations and apprenticeships. Learn more at kpu.ca.
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