Design and medicine collaborate using digital anthropometry

Background: Five 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. Methods: All projects were conducted using facilities in the Human Dimensioning