LSN : News : Study reveals football boots are not designed for women

Pearson Lloyd and Senator co-create next-gen learning furniture

CoLab by Pearson Lloyd, UK

UK – Industrial design studio Pearson Lloyd has partnered with British brand Senator to create CoLab, a furniture range designed specifically for next-generation learning. Developed after a two-year research project exploring changing teaching methods and technologies, CoLab is intended to facilitate active and social learning in modern classrooms.

CoLab features hybrid furniture objects that offer a range of seating and surfaces, allowing students to sit, lean, perch or stand. The designs support non-hierarchical interaction, catering for the shift to group work and peer-to-peer learning. The collection’s adaptable elements enable various forms of learning, providing agile group settings, space for laptop-based teamwork and casual gathering areas. With durability and circularity in mind, Pearson Lloyd developed modular components that can be easily repaired or replaced.

In Education in 2030, we explore what education will look like in the future; how traditional schooling will become outdated in the face of hyper-connected living. Pearson Lloyd’s new designs are not only robust, playful and practical, but also a thoughtful response to the changing face of education.

Strategic opportunity

The CoLab collection was created with Gen Z’s digital native and collaborative learning approach in mind. As this group will enter the workforce soon, businesses must adapt their spaces to accommodate varying work states and lifestyles

Study reveals football boots are not designed for women

Nike, Europe

Europe – The European Club Association (ECA) unveiled a pioneering research project in June 2023 to develop football boots specifically designed for women.

Working in collaboration with Aspetar and St Mary’s University, the ECA’s High-Performance Advisory Group, composed of club doctors, physiotherapists and sports scientists, has significantly invested in analysing the anatomical differences between women’s and men’s feet. Over 18 months, some 350 players from top European clubs participated in an anonymous survey, providing feedback on their current boots and any associated pain or discomfort. 3D scans of the players’ feet were also taken to analyse their shape and movement.

The study found that current football boots are primarily designed for white males, leading to discomfort and performance issues for non-white and women players. Some 82% of the women footballers surveyed said they experience discomfort wearing football boots. To be more inclusive, the latter should be designed specifically for women and address factors such as foot shape, bending points and stud placement to prevent injury and discomfort, according to the study.

‘It is clear that a one-size-fits-all approach is inadequate,’ says Dr Katrine Kryger of St Mary’s University. ‘The data and knowledge gained through this research will undoubtedly support the ongoing improvement and development of women’s football footwear.’

By investing in this ground-breaking research, the ECA aims to ensure that every woman and girl in football can play with boots that are engineered to fit their specific needs. As explored in our Inclusive Fashion Market report, swathes of the fashion industry remain inaccessible to, or uncomfortable for, many consumers in 2023.

Strategic opportunity

Players in the fashion industry should consider how the one-size-fits-all approach is no longer enough for consumers with specific needs. Consider investing in more inclusive R&D experts with new approaches to sizing and accessibility

Stat: US car buyers’ interest in electric vehicles at an all-time high

BMW i Vision Dee, Germany

US – Research from EY released in June 2023 suggests that among the US consumers planning to purchase a new vehicle in the next 24 months, nearly half (48%) intend to buy an electric vehicle (EV) – up by 19 percentage points from 29% in the 2022 EY Mobility Consumer Index. The rise in interest makes the US the seventh most EV-ready country. The top three spots are held by China, Norway and Sweden.

‘On the heels of government legislation aimed at mitigating consumer concerns and driving increased collaboration between private and public sectors, this year’s data demonstrates that the US is at a true precipice when it comes to mainstream EV adoption,’ says Steve Patton, EY Americas mobility sector leader. ‘We can expect to see more EVs, both commercial and consumer, on the road.’

Felipe Smolka, EY Americas automotive eMobility leader, also suggests more EV accessibility and incentives from the American government will boost EV adoption and sales. He says: ‘Whether it’s developing charging stations on interstate highways or driving battery circularity, we will see EV adoption thrive.’

In our Mobility series, we closely monitor the latest innovations and insights in the industry, from futuristic Lunar Landers to Gen Z consumers’ behaviour in the car market.

Strategic opportunity

A rising number of EV drivers could go hand in hand with more climate-conscious demands from them as part of a more sustainable lifestyle. Does your current offer include products and services that could respond to those consumers’ values and habits?