Abstract

ACHILLES is a speculative design project and conceptual artifact. It is not intended to function as a medically certified or biomechanically operational prosthetic arm. Instead, it operates within the realm of design research, using visual realism and luxury aesthetics to explore how assistive technologies could be perceived differently in cultural, emotional, and commercial contexts. Using 3D software to experiment with color, pattern, and texture, I designed a realistic mockup to demonstrate how Achilles could appear in a high-end commercial setting. Instead of animating the model, I focused on camera motion to highlight the prosthetic from multiple angles, emphasizing its sculptural and ornamental qualities. This project addresses a topic that is often difficult to discuss and reframes it through design, bringing awareness to the experience with elegance, empathy, and dignity. Rather than avoiding the conversation around limb loss, Achilles invites people to engage with it in a more uplifting, empowering way.

Publication Date

12-1-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Visual Communication Design (MFA)

Department, Program, or Center

Design, School of

College

College of Art and Design

Advisor

Mike Strobert

Advisor/Committee Member

Dan Deluna

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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