What do necklaces, eyeliner pencils, rubber bands, and 3D scanners have in common?  They are all used in the process of collecting anthropometric data! In this article, we’ll go over some of the common – and uncommon – tools we use every day. The first tool on our list is the anthropometer. Anthropometer: The Versatile … more »

Have you ever been shopping for clothes and wondered why you were a “small” and not a “medium”? How about the size of your seat cushion or the legroom in an airplane? Many products and services today are designed and optimized based on human body measurements. This data is collected using anthropometry – the study … more »

Skeletons. You know them. You see them hanging in windows or propped up against fences every October, as families joyfully prepare their homes to celebrate Halloween. But while those skeleton representations are meant to playfully scare us, you will never see anything like the real thing in people’s front yards. The Halloween variety is the … more »

Designing any research project can be daunting, and those in the anthropometric arena are no exception. Many elements are required, like articulating clear grounds for questioning, qualitative and quantitative measurements, defining outcomes, and measuring results. Unfortunately, many researchers focus far too much on the details of the project before asking the important questions that determine … more »

Kids grow constantly, changing dimensions even while they sleep!  That makes designing products for children’s safety a complex and challenging task.  That’s why high-quality anthropometric data are critical to the design of so many things that children interact with every day, like bike helmets, school busses and car seats. Finding the Right Fit for Helmets … more »

You might be surprised to learn just how many uses there are for anthropometric data. This article will focus on the design of workspaces, architectural living spaces and anthropometry’s key role in supporting those with disabilities. The US Access Board, an independent federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities, creates building standards in … more »