Embodied fitting for ultra-personalized workwear – opportunities and perceived risks of embodied vs. digital tools

There is a rise of digitally fabricated products based on users’ data, known as ultra-personalization. In earlier works, tools that allow future wearers to express their needs and wishes are scarce. We took a Research through Design approach to create two tools for future wearers to capture their needs and wishes for fit in the context of workwear: a digital and an embodied tool. Five wearers of workwear have tried the two tools and selected their preferred one. Ultra-personalized lab coats were then produced for them. Participants were interviewed about their perceptions of the tools. We present opportunities and perceived risks associated with both tools, such as issues concerning the accuracy of measurement, profession-specific movements, and effort. The embodied tool was met with a high appreciation while the digital tool has more potential for scalability. This work suggests that qualities of both tools can be reconciled.