The first seat belt accessory designed by a U.S. automaker to help mastectomy patients travel comfortably on their road to recovery.
D-Ford
Experience Design Intern
May 2023 – Aug 2023
During my summer internship at Ford Motor Company, I had the privilege of creating a seatbelt accessory to fulfill Ford’s mission to provide freedom of movement for everyone.
SUCCESSFULLY PATENTED
MISSION
Create a seat belt accessory to fulfill Ford's mission to provide freedom of movement for everyone
PROCESS
Thorough research, interviews, ideation, prototyping, user testing, 3D modeling & rendering, and presenting the final accessory to a panel of Ford managers
COLLABORATION
Collaborating across different disciplines at Ford including the safety & restraints team, marketing teams, and color and materials team
COMMUNICATION
Communicated with an Experience Architect to develop a list of requirements for the production design and manufacturing team
BACKGROUND
INSIGHT
In 2023, over 100,000 women had mastectomies. Many don’t wear their seat belts properly after surgery due to the extreme discomfort – putting their safety at risk.
PROJECT
Extensive research and development led to a product that attaches easily and securely to the seat belt providing comfort to mastectomy patients struggling with pain from open wounds, scars, swelling, radiation, chemo ports, and other discomforts associated with surgery.
100K+
WOMEN HAVE MASTECTOMIES EVERY YEAR
1 in 8
WOMEN WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER IN THEIR LIFETIME
USER TESTING
FORM IDEATION
Formed a collaborative space with research participants within Ford to complete a user testing study.
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Receiving feedback on form, softness, comfort, ease of use, mobility, design cues, type of attachment, material, and other insights.
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Analyzing the user journey as they attach the product to their vehicle seat belt.
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Participants provided helpful insights to solidify the final product.
MATERIAL BREAKDOWN
VELCRO FASTENING SYSTEM
Automotive-grade hook-and-loop fastening system allows for seat belt attachment, placement, and removal
RECYCLED SOFT SUEDE-LIKE SURFANCE MATERIAL
Soft and comfortable high-quality alternative to synthetic microsuede constructed from nearly 40% recycled PET from water bottles
SOFT FOAM CORE
Flexible, supportive and durable, the foam making up the core of the SupportBelt is designed to provide optimal comfort.
PERFORMANCE – TESTED LEATHER TRIM
Durable, performance-tested leather accents implemented for construction quality and overall look and feel
APPLICATION
01.
Buckle vehicle seat belt
02.
Unfasten straps of the SupportBelt
03.
Place under seat belt along the product channel
04.
Fasten straps around the seat belt to attach
05.
Adjust product to comfortable position
Media Coverage
Ford SupportBelt Across All Platforms
"I just want somebody who is using this product to be like, 'I'm glad that there was somebody who understood what I am going through and considered this very specific small part of my recovery process in such a thoughtful and considerate way,'"
- Rima Shkoukani
I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to work on something so impactful surrounded by an amazing group of people!