HELMLIT bridges the gap between functionality and aesthetics for those who rely heavily on cycling as a mode of transportation. HELMLIT aimed to provide cyclists with safe but stylish protective headgear. Due to the likelihood of this user biking at night, their safety and visibility in this context was an important consideration in finding a design solution.
Ideation
Research into human factors focused on the requirements for properly fitting headgear identified gaps in the market place. Specifically, the need for safety in nighttime riding has not been integrated well into existing models. We further identified a subset of individuals who would typically be resistant to wearing protective headgear. Particularly, for the style conscious rider, HELMLIT is a functional and safe yet sleek product.
Built-in LED lights provide illumination for increased visibility at nighttime, without sacrificing the aesthetic of the design during the day. Critically, during daytime riding, the lighting system is not visible making this helmet adaptable and stylish from dawn until dusk (top image). LED lights are integrated into the body of the helmet and are not directly visible, but rather the light that they emit refracts off of angled surfaces (bottom image).
