somatoSomato is a folding Pilates reformer designed to bring a studio-quality experience into the home without demanding dedicated space. Conceived as a product that could coexist with everyday life, the project combines furniture, mechanical design, and wellness to create a machine that stores compactly while preserving the feel of a commercial reformer.
Developed from concept through production, Somato encompassed every stage of bringing a physical product to market, including industrial and mechanical design, branding, packaging, digital experiences, technical documentation, supplier relationships, manufacturing, and quality control.
ROLE
Product:
Industrial design
Mechanical engineering
Color, Materials, Finish & Detail Specification
Human Factors & Ergonomics
Packaging design
User experience (UX/UI)
Web design
Brand development
3D art
Motion design
Art direction
Development:
Prototyping
Technical documentation
Quality control
Operations:
Manufacturing
Supply chain management
Product launch
Marketing
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Engineering a reformer that disappears under a bed.
Folds to 6” thick
Supports 300lb users
Weighs under 70lbs
Manufacturable at scale
No user assembly required
Minimizes visual clutter
Feels like a studio reformer
1. Foot Bar Mechanism
Four-position foot bar with automatic locking detents. Engineered for stability, ease of use, and quick adjustment during workouts.
2. Dials & Anchor Mechanism
The patent pending dial and anchor system allows each spring to be engaged with a simple 90° rotation. Under tension, the wings on each anchor engage with corresponding notches in the dial, preventing unintentional disengagement. The dial also incorporates an integrated tab that snaps into each 90° position, providing tactile feedback and confirming when the mechanism is fully engaged or disengaged.
3. Removable Shoulder Blocks
Removable shoulder blocks slide into their receivers, allowing the carriage to transition to a flat surface for different exercise movements. Removal and installation is easy, tool-free, and self-aligning.
4. Retracting Straps
The patent-pending strap system automatically retracts the straps into the machine, preventing tangles and preserving a clean silhouette. The retracting strap system is critical for smooth folding functionality.
5. Folding Architecture
The reformer folds in half through a central hinge architecture with an integrated handle. The mechanism maintains structural rigidity and alignment while reducing storage height to six inches.
Development Timeline
V1
Concept Model
Validated the overall product architecture, folding geometry, and compact storage concept through an initial proof of concept prototype.
V12
Resistance Exploration
Evaluated multiple resistance mechanisms to optimize user experience, manufacturability, reliability, and packaging constraints before selecting the final architecture.
V15
Appearance Model
Developed a high fidelity prototype that combined production intent aesthetics with core functionality for investor demonstrations, user feedback, and early validation.
V20
Functional Model
Developed a fully functional engineering prototype using modular T-slot aluminum construction to rapidly iterate on mechanical subsystems, validate kinematics, and refine the product architecture before committing to production tooling.
V24
Production Validation Test
Manufactured the final pre-production prototype using soft tooling to validate fit, finish, assembly, manufacturability, and user experience before authorizing mass production.
V27
Production
Final production design optimized for scalable manufacturing, assembly, quality control, and commercial launch.
