ABSTRACT
Headwear and neckwear products are varied in purpose and coverage. Headwear and neckwear fit on or around any part of the head and/or neck. Some products fit inside the ears or mouth. Designing products for diverse markets—fashion, protection, medical—requires different types and degrees of anatomical knowledge. If you are designing eyeglasses or a face mask, bony facial features, eye function, and facial nerve and blood vessel pathways are important. If you are designing helmets, both how the brain reacts to impact and how the skull resists impact are of paramount importance.
Basic anatomy of the head and neck:
Bones of the skull protect the brain and sensory organs and determine product shape and size.
Anatomical structures allow motion of the jaw and neck.
Soft tissue structures add individual character.
Circulatory, nervous, lymphatic, and respiratory systems are vulnerable.
The head and the neck locate the senses in space.
Headwear and neckwear opportunities and challenges:
Protection and enhancement, e.g. bicycle helmets, football helmets, hearing protection and enhancement
Aesthetics and function, e.g. fashion hats, winter hats, protective masks
Coverage and movement, e.g. masks to filter particles, safety glasses
Fit and sizing strategies are based on material type and structuring methods
Hard structures (molded helmets) to soft structures (knit hats)
Numerous body landmarks coordinate with product features.
