Folk Protest Jacket

A Jacket with a durable digital slogan display, hands free for hands on protesting. Commissioned by Folk Clothing and Brothers and Sisters to explore agile protest messaging.

Reversible Folk Jacket, Custom electronics, Composite material, Hydrophobic coatings, Velcro.

A public expression of objection, Brooklyn Bridge NYC, Oct 2017.

Stowed in a zipped pocket, a wireless keyboard is used to edit or select one of twenty pre written messages. To the rear of the panel, three tactile buttons adjust brightness and on/off state, allowing for the battery life to be stretched. USB battery backs are swappable and easy charging, a large battery, and a low panel brightness could stretch for the best part of a day.

The super bright LEDs ambiently adjust to save battery, and reduce glare when passing though shadows. Film and still cameras capture the complete message as visual interference is designed out. Using a durable flexible composite construction the panel is hand held or light enough to be held on to the jacket with Velcro.

The first prototype was used at a 2017 New York Trump protest.

Working with Powers Of Two, they specified an excellent high refresh rate LED driver that made sure panel messages would be captured when filmed in public. Cameras record differently to eyes, this prototype tested optical recording refresh rates with off the shelf LED display module refresh rates. 

Jacket integration testing quickly advanced the concept, bring up questions about the use scenarios and analogous products users may be more familiar with.

Precision masking stage for a hydrophobic spray coating. Construction here shows the composite polypropylene sandwich protecting the flexible electronics.

Folk Clothing

Brothers and Sisters

Powers of Two