Creative Design: Professional

Be You: Digitally Knitted Set for Children on Dialysis

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Abstract

Be You is a digitally knitted two-piece garment set designed for young children undergoing dialysis. Rooted in human-centered design and participatory co-design, the project engaged kindergarten-aged children in the creative process, allowing their drawings and input to shape both the aesthetic and emotional qualities of the final design. Addressing specific medical and emotional needs, the garment includes adaptive features for dialysis access sites and blook pressure cuffs, while also considering weight fluctuation, blood staining, and temperature regulation. Inspired by McAndrews and Brooks (2020) and building on digital knit design (Ohrn-McDaniel, 2023), Be You uses soft cotton yarn and digitally knitting technology to ensure comfort and dignity. Through creative workshop, children’s artwork informed motifs and color choices, symbolizing care and peer support. This project demonstrates how even the youngest voices can meaningfully contribute to healthcare design, offering a replicable model for compassionate, functional, and emotionally resonant pediatric garments.

Keywords: Children's wear digital knitting, co-design, dialysis, human-centered design theory, children's wear

How to Cite:

McAndrews, L. E. & Ohrn-McDaniel, L., (2025) “Be You: Digitally Knitted Set for Children on Dialysis”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 82(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.22033