Smart safety: From regulation to innovation—rethinking jockey safety vests through design-led wearable technology

User-centered design addresses end users’ needs to ensure effective product deployment. Unlike previous methods, this process focuses on addressing technology-related issues without considering ethical or sociocultural factors. As a result, radical product innovation continues to capture the interest of design scholars and experts. Contemporary advancements in technology and materials have significantly influenced the development of personal protective equipment (PPE) in sports, with a growing emphasis on enhancing athletes’ well-being. Within equestrian disciplines, PPE such as safety vests for jockeys plays a critical role in mitigating physical risk. While prior research has examined the physiological, cognitive, and performance-related aspects of horse riding, a notable gap remains in understanding how the design of jockeys’ PPE can effectively reduce the severity of sustained injuries. This study investigates the current limitations and future potential of jockey safety vests through the lens of material innovation, wearable technology, and design regulation. Drawing on a case study within the Australian regulatory context, this research identifies a critical tension between safety standards and innovation, suggesting that rigid compliance frameworks may inadvertently hinder the evolution of high-performance protective equipment. The study proposes a design-led approach to rethinking jockey vests as intelligent wearable systems—incorporating flexible sensors and smart materials—to enhance injury prevention, improve post-accident outcomes, and offer actionable data for both medical professionals and insurers. The study advocates for a shift toward more dynamic product standards that support design experimentation and user-centered innovation in sports PPE, thereby serving as a foundational step for future research and applications.