Circuit

The design and development of wearable interactive products demand not only technical expertise but also a strong conceptual foundation, user-centered thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This article presents Circuit, an interdisciplinary, project-based learning initiative that brings together design, textile, and electronics engineering students. Together, they developed an innovative wearable product—a running jacket capable of monitoring heart rate and visually displaying performance through interactive LEDs. The project emphasizes interdisciplinarity by integrating design aesthetics and functionality, textile engineering, and embedded electronics. Students from very distinct disciplinary areas are encouraged to tackle real-world design challenges collaboratively and creatively. Besides the development of a technical prototype, the project also fosters key skills such as teamwork, user research, iterative prototyping, and design communication. The result of this work shows how wearable technology can serve as both a creative medium and a pedagogical tool. Contemporary design practice is increasingly technology-driven. This project explores how collaborative work can bridge students’ knowledge gaps in design and technology. Students are likely to face similar challenges in their professional design or engineering practice.