Ski Safety Helmet
Product Design Experience
CHallenge
Design a piece of winter sports equipment that goes beyond current safety standards; something functional, visually distinct, and capable of preventing or mitigating injury on the mountain. The open-ended nature of the prompt required me to narrow in on a specific solution through independent research and iterative prototyping.
REsearch and direction
To define a focused direction, I conducted independent research and analysis of common ski and snowboarding accidents. I also studied the limitations of existing helmet technologies. This work helped shape a concept centered around proactive injury prevention, specifically targeting impact absorption, hazard awareness, and post-injury communication.
I focused on integrating active safety features that went beyond standard helmets. The concept included a detachable module acting as both a two-way radio and GPS, helping skiers stay connected and oriented on the mountain. I also explored crash detection that could automatically notify Ski Patrol in the event of significant impact, ensuring faster response times. Together, these features positioned the helmet as both protective gear and an active safety system.
ITERATION & PROTOTYPING
This project evolved through three required iterations as part of my Second Year Studio course. Each round refined the concept and brought the design closer to a final vision. I created both hand-drawn and digital sketches, ran usability scenarios, and developed a full-scale visual prototype through 3D printing and CAD modeling. The design process taught me to value research-driven decisions and to give the product space and time to evolve.
The Outcome
The final result was a concept helmet supported by instructional comic-style visuals, product sketches, a full-scale 3D printed model, and digital renders with animations. While this version remains a visual prototype, the concept opens the door to future integration of embedded technologies. I plan to continue development by assembling an engineering and programming team to further explore smart safety features.
FInal PRODUCT & FEATURES
A safety-first ski and snowboard helmet concept focused on injury prevention and post-incident support.
Streamlined visual form with a modern, gear-integrated profile
Modular safety compartments for future tech integration, i.e.:
2-way radio
GPS
Trauma detection beacon
Instructional illustrations to communicate hazard awareness to users
3D printed full-scale visual prototype
