For Milan Design Week this year, Puma and MIT Design Lab teamed up to explore the ways in which living organisms may be used for the purposes of enhancing one's athletic abilities through sportswear.
PUMA and MIT Design Lab began conducting research in the field of biodesign since June 2017, working with materials like algae and bacteria to create products. Potentially, the fusion of science and biotechnology means that it may be possible to create "a football jersey made from the silk of a spider or a shoe box grown from mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms."
For Milan Design Week, Puma and the MIT Design Lab showcased four of their experiments: a Breathing Shoe, a Deep Learning Insole that boosts performance based on real-time biofeedback, Carbon Eaters and Adaptive Packaging.
Athletic Biodesign Exhibits
Puma and MIT Design Lab are Exploring Performance-Boosting Designs
Trend Themes
1. Biodesign Innovation - Exploring the use of living organisms in sportswear opens up possibilities for performance-enhancing designs.
2. Sustainable Materials - Using algae, bacteria, and mycelium in product creation presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in sustainable materials.
3. Biofeedback Technology - Developing deep learning insoles that enhance performance through real-time biofeedback offers potential for disruptive innovation in athletic wearables.
Industry Implications
1. Sportswear - Integrating biodesign principles into sportswear manufacturing processes enables disruptive innovation in performance-enhancing athletic apparel.
2. Material Science - Exploring sustainable materials like algae, bacteria, and mycelium opens up disruptive innovation opportunities in the field of material science.
3. Wearable Technology - Incorporating biofeedback technology in athletic wearables creates the potential for disruptive innovation in the wearable technology industry.