Ango - Biomimmcry Knne Pad

ANGO

Details

2022

HEXR
Biomimicry brief

ANGO

ANGO is a knee protector concept for skaters, developed in a seven-day design sprint for a biomimicry brief from helmet specialist HEXR. It combines a segmented shell inspired by pangolin scales with cushioning informed by Air Max footwear.

The aim was to balance coverage and freedom of movement with a form that feels closer to sportswear.

Context

Within parts of the skating community, protective gear is something people are reluctant to wear. A knee protector therefore has to address how it looks and feels as well as its intended function.

ANGO draws from the angular forms and layered construction of contemporary footwear, aiming to make protection fit more naturally into a skater’s clothing and movement.

Design details

The outer shell is divided into three overlapping sections, taking its cue from the protective scales of a pangolin. The plates follow the knee’s curve and are intended to move relative to one another as the leg bends.

Separate cushioning pockets sit behind the shell, drawing on the impact-absorbing approach of Air Max footwear. Together, the articulated exterior and cushioned inner layer explore how protection could accommodate movement around the joint.

Sketches, card models and 3D-printed prototypes used to develop the segmented shell.

Early sketches and card models explored different outlines and ways of dividing the shell. These were followed by 3D-printed versions, allowing the curvature, scale and relationship between sections to be examined in three dimensions.

The models developed from a flat, segmented outline into a curved assembly, with overlapping plates and connections that could be checked by hand.

A shell prototype was held against a participant’s knee in a seated, bent-leg position. This provided a direct way to examine how its contour sat on the body and where the plate edges met the knee.

The assembled 3D-printed version was also flexed by hand to inspect the movement between sections. The photographs document these fit and articulation checks during development.

“Fall with Style” is a 3D product animation I created for ANGO. The film moves from a pangolin curling up to close-up views of the overlapping shell and inner cushioning, showing the concept from multiple angles.

ANGO

2022