• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.834-840
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• 2013

This study aims to suggest practical considerations for designing protective clothing with increased visibility that will have higher user acceptance by law enforcement officers. Light-emitting diode(LED) patrol vests were visually and structurally assessed, and 125 police officers' responses from surveys about user acceptance of the vest were analyzed. The current LED patrol vest was designed for enhanced safety of police officers by increasing visibility in the dark. However, the user acceptance rate of the LED patrol vest indicates low use of and low satisfaction with the vest despite its enhanced safety features. In particular, differences in materials, design, functionality of the pockets and size of the vest depending on the hours worked, were statistically significant. The police officers' responses suggest areas of improvement in design, materials, ease of movement, size and functionality. Key issues include 'tactile discomfort'; 'impeded vision from the glare of the LED'; 'frequent malfunctions of the LED'; 'impossible repair of the broken LED units'; 'no user feedback'; 'inconvenient to replace batteries'; 'brittle materials' and 'unpleasing look'. To increase user acceptance, designer should incorporate context-awareness, a convenient user interface, a modular design approach, first responders' self-image as public servants in relation to their aesthetic perspectives of their uniforms, and scientific evaluation of the effectiveness of the intended functions of the clothing. Suggested implications for designing the LED patrol vest can be applied to designing other functional/protective clothing for intended end users with special needs.