Issue | Sep 2009

Fitting helmets to Chinese people perfectly Scientific sizing data on Chinese heads shake up Headgear Market...

SizeChina, the most comprehensive scientific database on sizes and shapes of Chinese head, en- ables numerous industries to deliver better fitting products for China markets, including headgear, eyewear, sports gear, medical face mask and personal electronic devices. Using cutting-edge 3D scanning technology to scan over 3,000 men and women across China, our survey gathers high ac- curacy sizing data on head shapes and facial features, which has been translated into 10 standard sizes of Chinese head forms. Available in the form of 3D visualization and solid physical model, the new data would dramatically reduce the guesswork in measurements, offering the newest way to size your products for the best fit.

he School of Design at The sizing survey of Chinese heads T Hong Kong Polytechnic Uni- led by School of Design’s Profes- versity has launched SizeChina, sor Roger Ball, unlocks the misery. the world’s first anthropometric Prof. Ball finds out that Chinese database, providing measure- heads are rounder and flatter at ment on the sizes and shapes of the back, while Caucasians’ are Chinese head. Now designers oval in shape. Besides, Chinese Standard Chinese head forms and manufacturers can lever- heads are more natural and per- age on the latest technology – fect in geometry than those of 3D scan data of real people – to westerners. make better fitting headgear and eyewear for the Chinese, The unfitness gives a hard time and grow their business in the convincing Chinese people to process. wear helmets, and it certainly slows down the selling of head- All the while, headgear and eye- gear in Asia and the Chinese wear products used in the Chi- mainland. Anthropometry data, nese mainland were designed a solution to this fitting problem, against Caucasian measure- is so expensive that average ments due to lacking of sizing companies can hardly afford. data of Asian head and facial Funded by the Government and

6 scanning location in China features. That is why these prod- industry player Strategic Sports ucts usually do not fit properly on and New Era Cap, SizeChina Chinese people. SizeChina, a cost HK$5.3 million and has

Issue | Sep 2009

taken 18 months to complete. This generate 3D head model. It is survey provides invaluable data now possible to design new prod- that has a dramatic impact on the ucts in all sizes around 3D visualiza- design of helmets, caps, sun- tion models, which dramatically glasses, face masks, and other reduces the guesswork in meas- protective headgear for Asian urements. markets. SizeChina data is packaged in Reflecting a nationally representa- varying scope of coverage that Scan subject tive sample, the SizeChina study best suits any industry or research

digitally scans more than 3,000 needs, ranging from a minimum of men and women aged 18-70 of 12 human scans to complete data various weights and heights, who set of over 1500 scans. Further- are selected from major cities more, it is accessible at affordable across the Chinese mainland in- rate for companies of every size, cluding , , hoping to deliver the benefits of , , and this new ergonomic data to the . widest community possible.

Using cutting-edge 3D scanning Offering the newest way to size technology, SizeChina obtains 3D any product for the best fit, the 3D scan data scan providing 360° view on real project won a Gold Award from people. Based on essential an- the 2008 International Design Ex- thropometry landmarks, this tech- cellence Awards. This immediately nology is able to capture head caught the attention of industry; measurements with high accuracy the first product making use of unmatched by manual measure- SizeChina data was the military ments. In exceptionally high- goggle for Chinese soldiers, which resolution, the SizeChina scan im- commanded high standard in ages offer high quality visualization terms of function and safety. of the shapes of head and face in 3D, providing outstanding level of By tapping into this scientific data, detail on the surface shape and companies can now enhance the facial features. fitting, comfort and aesthetics of their products, from sports gear to After robust statistical treatment, personal electronic devices such the sizing data has been trans- as Bluetooth headsets, or even lated into 10 standard sizes of Chi- head-wearing virtual reality gam- nese head forms, that caters for all ing control. Chinese head sizes and shapes. The high quality data is easy to work with because it can be trans- ferred to any Computer Aided De- sign (CAD) or Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software to

Tel: 852-34002929 Fax: 852-23332410 Email: [email protected] http://www.pdo.polyu.edu.hk