Ny design på all-mountainskida för säsongare

Abstract

This report describes the bachelor thesis carried out by students within the engineering program Design and Product Development at Chalmers University of Technology, in collaboration with Norse Skis. Norse Skis is a Swedish ski company based in Gothenburg that focuses on manufacturing sustainable skis with minimal impact on the environment. The project aimed to design a new ski model for Norse Skis, focusing on graphics and shapes, for the target group of seasonal skiers. The project followed a user-centered design process that consisted of three phases: Inspiration, Idea, and Implementation. To design a pair of skis that meet the needs of the users and become more sustainable, the project has focused on creating graphics where the user is at the center and gets a connection to the skis by associating memories, such as fantastic rides, with them. The vision is that the skis become more sustainable due to the skier wants to use them for a longer period of time because a personal bond has been formed between the skier and the skis. With that bond, the desire to use the skis increases until the maximum lifespan is reached (and more). The skis become a memory bank of previous travel destinations, which contributes to social sustainability where the individual's well-being is the focus. The thesis question was how can the graphics and shape of skis be designed to express longevity and appeal to the seasonal skier? The project began with gaining deep insight into different types of skis and their characteristics. An understanding of the users was then created through a user study and own experiences from seasonal life. It was found that seasonal skiers spend the most time on and off the slopes, rather than in the park or on a ski hike. As a result, a pair of all-mountain skis that perform well all over the mountain was designed with graphics to promote social sustainability in the sense that a personal, emotional bond is established to the skis to maximize their longevity. Once knowledge of the user and the product had been established, the project moved on to the idea generation phase. In this phase, lengths, shapes, graphics, and names were created which were iterated and evaluated to produce the best possible design. The result of the project is a high-performance and playful all-mountain ski that delivers all over the mountain. It has a length of 183 centimeters, a waist of 104 millimeters, a tip and tail rocker, and a high camber. The graphic is designed to promote longevity and create a stronger emotional connection between the ski and the skier. The skis have gender-neutral graphic where the user can write down their experiences, trips, and rides which make the ski unique. The skis that have been developed in this thesis have received positive reactions from seasonal skiers, which has led to requests for Norse Skis to broaden its range with this ski.