BackgroundFive projects, conducted collaboratively between design and health/medicine researchers, are described including: study of the osteoporotic figure to develop apparel designs that encourage active life styles, evaluation of weight loss induced body changes, evaluation of breast cancer treatment related effects on body asymmetry, improved fit and design of a liquid cooling garment to maintain healthy body temperature of astronauts, and development of a body satisfaction intervention for young women. Steps of a design process were used to facilitate project work and to communicate progress to participating researchers. MethodsAll projects were conducted using facilities in the Human Dimensioning© Lab at the University of Minnesota. “Digital anthropometry”, a method of measuring and analyzing the body using a topical laser body scanner, was used to measure and describe the human body for applications in the five projects.ResultsResults vary from providing detailed information concerning body shape and size, to incorporating the body measurement data into improved designs of wearable products, to using the body data to educate young women about healthy bodies.Conclusions

The fields of design and medicine share common interests in improving the human condition. More specifically apparel designers and physicians have in-depth, but varying, knowledge of the structure and workings of the human body and use that knowledge to address human needs. By using the design process as a means of communication, the two fields can develop solutions to human problems.