Alternative prosthetics that 'speak from the soul'
Sophie de Oliveira Barata started her career making realistic-looking artificial limbs for amputees.
But at university she had studied special effects prosthetics for TV and film, and wondered if she could use her skills to make limbs that looked more unusual and "spoke from people's soul".
Sophie set up the Alternative Limb Project and now makes bespoke, design-focused prosthetics from materials such as wood, glass and metal that reflect the wearer's personality and imagination, as well as making ultra-realistic limbs.
Among others, she has designed limbs for model and singer-songwriter Viktoria Modesta and athlete Jo-Jo Cranfield.
BBC News went to meet Sophie at her studio in north-west London.
Video journalist: Alain Gales
Still image courtesy of Omkaar Kotedia
More video features from the BBC News Magazine.
05 Jan 2015
- From the section Magazine