Ski Design (Topsheet) History

Thank God for this blog post so I could learn what a topsheet was.

I love skiing. I’ve been lucky enough to have skied my whole life and continue to do it. It’s one of the many reasons for moving to Denver.

As a designer, I’ve been looking at skis and snowboards with a keen eye though. I’ve known the snowboard and ski industry to follow similar trends as the surf industry. There’s a gritty yet fun nature to the subjects on stickers covering lodge bathroom walls and lodges where ski-bums congregate.

This is what makes this world so attractive to me, but makes me wonder if there’s more a designer can offer to the world that seems (on the outside) stuck in a stereotype of itself.

CURRENT TRENDS

“People buy with their emotions, and it’s a lot of money to spend (on skis). You need to be proud of and happy with what you buy and how it looks.”

This take is extremely important to me as a designer. When it comes to luxury items such as skis, emotional connection to the design is what can secure that purchase.

There’s a few stereotypical visuals I associate with skis and snowboards: geometric, psychedelic, and busy. Artistic for sure, but these designs sit in a particular style.

So let’s look at how these designs come to be:

Established manufacturers’ design parameters often come from the company’s global headquarters. They hire creative agencies to develop topsheets based on trends, target customer and intended use.

But in the early 2000s, as independent, boutique ski and snowboard manufacturers began emerging, topsheet graphics became a way to establish a unique brand identity.

DESIGN PARAMETERS

The general shape of a pair of skis: Long and skinny (85mm and 100mm wide)

Bindings: Sit in the middle of the ski. To a design running through the ski, it does break the flow a bit. Colors of the binding can be customized though.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE BIZ

The artistic process is of course, confined by the seasons. It wouldn’t be design without such a thing!

Designs are to be finished in early fall for the following winter’s product line (over a year in advance).

This is to allow factories time to produce samples and provide the skis to dealers and media at trade shows.

SKI DESIGNS FROM THE PAST

Let’s look back at designs from the 60’s through the 90’s. Skiing was developing and growing in popularity at the time, and it’s interesting to see the progression in design.

To characterize, the skis designed before the 2000’s were simple and colorful. Designs were made up of shapes, lines, color, and brand name.

Hynna’s Place in Ski Design

In ski design, I see a challenge. This is a unique space for design that I feel I can make my mark on.

And as a designer who’s niche is to go back to create something new, I will be trying to blend the simplicity and striking nature of the vintage topsheet design with the gritty, fun nature of the current topsheets.

Let’s see what comes of it!