DEVELOPMENT OF HIKING FOOTWEAR FOR WOMEN

Abstract

This thesis was conducted in collaboration with the Italian brand Dolomite and focuses on the development of a hiking shoe specifically tailored for young Scandinavian women. The project adopts a user-centered design approach, with both functional and aesthetic needs at its core. The objective was to create user requirements and a concept for a hiking boot designed to appeal to the female target group. The project began with extensive research, including interviews, surveys and observational studies with women from the intended user group. Insights gained from this research were used to develop a representative persona, which served as the foundation for idea generation and concept development. A series of concept proposals were formulated based on the collected data and systematically evaluated using a Pugh matrix. User interviews and group discussions provided additional qualitative insights into preferences regarding fit, lightness and visual style. The final concept is a hiking shoe that combines functionality, comfort and Scandinavian minimalism. Its design is carefully adapted to the anatomical needs of the target group and their aesthetic preferences, strengthening Dolomite’s product portfolio towards a growing market segment.