The process can be found below.
Pillo, a collection of fall injury protection clothing for the elderly
Research focus: Aging, fall injury prevention, health-focused materials, stigma reduction
Pillo is a collection of fall injury protection loungewear designed by Jess Park to support safer, more independent aging. Developed as her MFA Industrial Design thesis at Parsons School of Design at The New School, the project explores how protective products for older adults can address physical safety without reinforcing visual associations with frailty, illness, or institutional care.
Falls can significantly affect mobility and independence in later life, with hip fractures among their most serious consequences. At the same time, protective and assistive products can carry stigmas associated with aging and poor health, discouraging their use.
Pillo integrates shock-absorbing foam pads into discreet inner pockets at the hip. The garments are designed to be comfortable, washable, easy to put on and remove, and appropriate for everyday use. The protective pads were fabricated using waste material sourced from a manufacturer, extending the project’s investigation to material reuse and product longevity.
Pillo considers safety, dignity, aesthetics, and user acceptance as interconnected aspects of fall injury protection. The project explores how industrial design can support safer and more independent aging while reducing the stigma often associated with assistive products.
Featured on WeVux
Featured at NYCxDesign Student Spotlight and Digital Yearbook
Featured at the WantedDesign 2021 Student Showcase
Featured in the New School 2021 Thesis Highlight
Featured on the New School's Social Media page and Medium Magazine
Featured at the Design Pavillon Student Showcase
Featured at NYCxDesign's End of Year Show
Exhibited at Parsons Grad Exhibit and Parsons Festival 2021
Research
The Pillo compendium documents the project’s research and design development.
The Pillo thesis book presents the complete MFA thesis research and project.
