::AntiComfort Project::

Mamas & Papas came to us with a brief to design a lightweight buggy stroller that addresses the issue of comfort. Comfort is one of the most important criteria that parents think of when making a purchase so I identified a range of comfort agendas.

The agenda I addressed was the apparent separation between visually assumed comfort and physiological comfort. Parents and prospective parents alike perceive comfort in an archetypal way and failed to notice that there are methods of supporting a growing child through the various stages of development without using thick padding.

The design focuses primarily on the child’s physiological comfort. The form and support was derived from models based on anthropometric data of children from newborn babies through to toddlers. The buggy incorporates breathable mesh that is structurally contoured to support the child’s spine both in the reclined and upright position. This was inspired by technology commonly found in high-end office chairs designed to support office workers for extended periods of time. The mesh is breathable, which increased breathability in the summer. There is an insulated cover that traps warm air in the winter whilst maintaining breathability allowing the buggy to be used in all seasons. The mesh is also antibacterial and resists fluid making it hygienic and easy to clean.

Ironically by focusing on the child’s comfort during the design process I had taken influences from many external sources including the field of technical garments. These offered more efficient use of material and combined with my methodology of designing out anything that didn’t need to be there resulted in impressive weight reductions. By reducing the weight of the buggy and maintaining manoeuvrability, the comfort of the parent is also enhanced.