Spheric
The Spheric consumer is a 30–50-year-old urban commuter living in Portland, Oregon in the year 2050. As they navigate a city transformed by climate change, their clothing must evolve with them—providing protection, mobility, and intelligent function. Whether biking through heavy rain or weaving between transit systems, they value sustainability and rely on versatile, performance-driven pieces that align with their ethics and support their dynamic lifestyle.
In Spheric, the daily commute becomes a journey through the future. This collaborative capsule redefines utility wear for 2050’s urban explorer, merging upcycled tents, laser-cut reflective vinyl, and structured silhouettes to create garments built for motion, adaptability, and life in a changing cityscape.
Consumer
Predicted Future
By 2050, urban life has evolved in response to the pressures of a changing planet. Cities like Portland have transformed into dense, sustainable ecosystems—vibrant with greenery, renewable energy, and technology woven seamlessly into daily life. Architecture breathes with the environment: vertical gardens climb concrete walls, solar networks power entire neighborhoods, and compact communities thrive around shared resources and pedestrian-friendly design.
Mobility has become dynamic and intuitive. Commuters navigate the city through autonomous vehicles, shared e-bikes, and energy-efficient transit systems designed for fluid movement. As weather patterns grow unpredictable, clothing now functions as personal armor—regulating temperature, resisting pollutants, and adapting to rapid shifts between work, travel, and leisure.
Culturally, sustainability is no longer a choice but a shared value. Society champions circular design, mindful consumption, and technology that enhances both human experience and environmental health. In this reimagined future, fashion transcends the idea of fast—it becomes intelligent, enduring, and deeply connected to the rhythm of urban life.
Final Product
For this project, I collaborated closely with an engineer to design and construct an interactive LED light-up jacket that merged fashion with technology. My goal was to create a garment that illuminated in response to user interaction while maintaining a refined, wearable aesthetic. I developed the jacket pattern, selected materials, and carefully planned the integration of electronic components so they would enhance, rather than disrupt, the design.
Using LED strips stitched along the sleeves with conductive thread, I created a network that allowed light to flow through the garment in a controlled and visually striking way. The engineering component centered around a compact, rechargeable battery, which was concealed between the lining and main fabric inside one of the pockets to preserve comfort and silhouette integrity. The power system was paired with a key-card sensor that acted as a wearable trigger — when the card was placed inside the pocket, the battery detected it and activated the circuit, causing the LEDs to illuminate.
The result was a garment that balanced technical innovation and fashion design, demonstrating how interactive technology can be seamlessly embedded into apparel to create both functional and expressive experiences.
