Scoliosis develops during puberty and is marketed by a curved spine. The brace—dubbed Airy—is made from polylactic acid and is designed to have an off-the-shelf fit for teen girls.
“I modified each side piece to be symmetrical so that people with left or right curvature can share the same brace,” Sangyu tells Dezeen. “I also replaced the front closure with a three-point connection made up of a heavy-duty nylon cord instead of a noisy Velcro strap.”
Existing braces are designed with a very bulky and noticeable appearance. They are also uncomfortable and cause mental health issue for teenage patients, Sangyu adds. “Airy, on the other hand, is intended to be subtle…. I hope that [teenage girls] will feel like they’re not wearing a brace but feel like they are [walking through] air, and wear the brace with confidence.”