BlindFind Vest
BlindFind is a wearable device that assists navigation for visually impaired users in public indoor spaces.
The vest houses the primary hardware and connects to a head-mounted unit, providing a breathable, reflective, and functional vest.
My role as Soft Goods Design Lead was to develop a vest that houses the back-mounted hardware and remains comfortable for long-duration wear.
• Soft Goods, Materials Research, 3D Printing, Rapid Prototyping, CAD
• Industrial Sewing Machine, 3D Printing, Rhino 3D, Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom
1 year
• Soojung Ham – RISD Professor & Design Lead
• Benjamin Kimia – Brown University Professor & Engineering Lead
ASSEMBLY
The vest features a hidden zipper in the spacer mesh to access screws for hardware removal. Piping guides and alignment holes simplify reassembling the hardware and ensure the screws align with the fabric correctly.
USER NEEDS + HYPOTHESIS
The BlindFind project addresses challenges visually impaired users face when navigating indoor public spaces. Research and testing informed a wearable system that places the main hardware on the back, connects it to a head-mounted lens for navigation, and pairs it with a haptic belt for tactile feedback.
PROTOTYPING PHASE
I developed four vest prototypes, refining fit for a 5’3” XS-S female body and testing pattern, comfort, and user feedback.
MOCKUP PHASE:
• Explored vest patterns and tightening methods using scrap fabric and paper
• Identified pain points and pattern improvements.
LOW FIDELITY PHASE:
• Refined vest shape and buckle solutions.
• CAD-modelled hardware case and attachment method.
MEDIUM FIDELITY PHASE:
• Improved pattern design and studied material impact on sizing.
• Developed a method to clamp hardware cleanly using punched holes and heat-set screws.
PATTERN MAKING + CAD
I used Rhino 3D to visualize materials, refine the pattern based on prototype testing, and add seam allowances. In the same program, I designed a case to enclose the PCB, with side openings for USB cables and a top opening for the HDMI cable, allowing the hardware to mount to the vest while connecting to the eyepiece.
HOW-TO-WEAR
The vest’s exterior has various textures, while the lining is smoother to help distinguish the inside from the outside. When worn, the Fidlock buckles attach magnetically, and the HDMI cable connects quickly to the eyepiece.