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University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses
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Design for the outdoor experience
(USC Thesis Other)
Design for the outdoor experience
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Content
Design for the Outdoor Experience
by
Youwei Wan
A Thesis Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE USC ROSKI SCHOOL OF ART AND DESIGN
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
MASTER OF FINE ARTS
DESIGN
December 2021
Copyright 2021 Youwei Wan
ii
Table of Contents
List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ iii
Abstract. ......................................................................................................................................... iv
Introduction and Inspiration. ........................................................................................................... 1
Inspiration from Designers. ............................................................................................................ 4
Historical Development of Outdoor Equipment. ............................................................................ 4
Individual Projects. ......................................................................................................................... 8
Project 1: Redesigned Tent. ........................................................................................................ 9
Project 2: Redesigned Sleeping Bag. ........................................................................................ 10
Project 3: Color Journal. ........................................................................................................... 14
Project 4: Outdoor Hiking Animation ....................................................................................... 22
Project 5: Outdoor “Gear-Up” Mobile Application. ................................................................. 23
Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 26
Bibliography ................................................................................................................................. 27
iii
List of Figures
Figure 1: Tent redesign. ................................................................................................................ 10
Figure 2: Redesigned sleeping bag 1 ............................................................................................ 11
Figure 3: Redesigned sleeping bag 2 ............................................................................................ 12
Figure 4: Redesigned sleeping bag for pet .....................................................................................13
Figure 5: Escape from city chaos ...................................................................................................15
Figure 6: Depart from real-life in a boat-tent .................................................................................17
Figure 7: Camping on the beach facing the sunset. ...................................................................... 18
Figure 8: Tent on a moon. ............................................................................................................. 19
Figure 9: Tent in snow mountain .................................................................................................. 20
Figure 10: Tent in grassland. ........................................................................................................ 20
Figure 11: Tent in skyline ............................................................................................................. 21
Figure 12: Tent in wonderland ...................................................................................................... 21
Figure 13: Outdoor hiking animation ........................................................................................... 22
Figure 14: Outdoor mobile application ......................................................................................... 25
iv
Abstract
The thesis elaborates on the dynamics and importance of creativity and design
development in various outdoor equipment. My work analyzes the historical development of
outdoor gear, the progress of its design, and concludes with the presentation of my final design
projects. Throughout my creative work, I use the design process as a means of breaking down
each project into smaller manageable sections. Therefore, I define the problem, collect
information regarding the existing problem and existing solutions, assess and brainstorm
aesthetic ideas and design my final solutions.
The thesis begins by elaborating on my personal stories and develops with inspiration and
solutions that are based on personal experience with outdoor activities.
All listed projects demonstrate my wish to utilize the strength of design to leverage the
outdoor experience for all outdoor enthusiasts.
1
Introduction and Inspiration
I have always enjoyed the outdoor experience. It connects me with the natural world,
offers new discoveries, and provides the thrill of being in an environment where the elements are
beyond my control. The interest in the outdoors has always been with me, having experienced
my father’s love for the outdoors, skill in making outdoor equipment, and running a company
that manufactures and sells outdoor equipment to individuals and other companies alike. Many
people share my passion and interest in experiencing the outdoors and this has inspired me to
explore different methods to redesign outdoor gear and leverage the outdoor experience with
newest technology and multi-media, combining aesthetics and functionality to create solutions
for all outdoor enthusiasts.
As a child, I spent time with my father in his company, seeing him make outdoor
equipment such as tents and hiking gear, interacting with users, meeting their specifications, and
getting feedback. I found it really interesting sampling the tents he made; I felt like I was in
another world, especially when the tents were made of many colors. Whenever I felt bad or
depressed, I slept in the sample tents and assessed their interiors, giving my father feedback on
what I found interesting or could be improved. The multicolored tents that were organized in his
workshop made me fantasize about my future life. Camping excursions allowed me to explore
the outdoors and provided experiences that would fuel my interest for outdoor lifestyle design.
Experiencing nature firsthand was a way for me to relieve myself from the pressures of life, have
fun, discover, and learn more about the world.
2
As a teenager I was a school club member that took part in outdoor activities such as
fieldwork and excursions that brought me closer to nature. I also spent time outdoors with my
friends and classmates, participating in activities such as camping, hiking, outdoor exhibitions,
and writing stories about my experiences. Each activity that I participated in fulfilled me
differently. For instance, hiking made me realize how distinct parts of the world are, even
without touring the globe. Each step I took in a different location made me resonate with the
environment there, feeling as if I was part of nature. I enjoyed feeling the gravel beneath my
sole, stretching my back after a steep hike, and the fatigue after a long day. It was pleasant. I also
enjoyed camping, especially the evenings, where we would see the red and fiery orange sunset
over the horizon. I would anticipate the small campfire, with awesome stories, and being
outdoors with great company. The mornings after camps were equally satisfying as I would
touch the grass filled with dew and smell the wet soil.
I recall when we toured a valley in Tibet. I had a wonderful time full of discovery and
adventure. It was a turning point in my interest in outdoor activities. Walking along the valley, I
felt sandwiched between two grand landscapes that have endured time and the elements, making
them mighty to look at and admire. My friends and I took photos and souvenirs to remind us that
the experience fulfilled our curiosity and interests in diverse ways. I remember telling my father
about the valley trip, and how great it made me feel. The equipment I used, made by him, was of
critical importance in the trip as it made me feel connected with nature as well as my family. The
valley tour experience made me decide on fully taking part in outdoor activities. And gave rise to
my interest in studying and researching the best outdoor equipment as well as the outdoor
product design.
3
Later while living in Seattle, I continued to grow as an outdoor enthusiast and developed
my own personal niche of activities with friends and obtained a better understanding of how the
outdoor experience shapes my life and decisions. I discovered that many of my groupmates,
mostly from overseas, enjoy the outdoor experience but encounter several challenges to fully
benefit from outdoor environments. These types of challenges include unfamiliarity with the
terrain or unclear trail wayfinding and a lack of information concerning the right equipment for
outdoor environments. These combined challenges lead them to inadequate preparation for the
outdoor activity and left them exposed to the dangers of the elements. This was especially true
when the outdoor equipment choice was incorrect.
There was an overall problem regarding the lack of a unified and well-equipped source of
information for the members of the group. The best way to address the problems would be
producing a mobile application that has the information required to support any outdoor activity.
As an outdoors person I want to be able to share the joy of the outdoors with others. As a
designer I strive to combine aesthetics and functionality in my solutions to problems. As a result
of my research, I recently designed a mobile application that solves most of the challenges I
encountered with friends. Potential users will use the application to prepare and derive the best
experience from the outdoor environment. Ideally, I will be able to collect the desired and
precise information about outdoor equipment and fuse it into a compact mobile application that
users can access through the various mobile devices and development environments.
Further, I have taken an approach towards the creation of a sustainable solution for
outdoor equipment by assessing the market for the equipment and user dynamics, tastes and
preferences. The mobile application’s aesthetics and functionality considers trends and
preferences of user interface and user experience so that the user fully interacts with the
4
application to get all workable solutions to their outdoor challenges. Also incorporated in this
application design are other complimentary items required during excursions. These include
durable water bottles, waterproof shoes, reliable sleeping bags, outdoor backpacks, towels for
outdoor water activities etc. The incorporation of items and information regarding outdoor
activities provides an umbrella cover to all challenges that potential users may face regarding the
preparation of any outdoor activity.
Inspiration from Designers
During the research for the project, I fused different elements inspired by other outdoor
designers on the design of outdoor equipment and lifestyle. For instance, I took aspects of
comfort and being cozy in the outdoor environment from designers such as Kelly Hill of the
Swedish Fjällräven brand of outdoor clothes, Benji Wagner of Poler, and Jedd Rose of Topo
Designs. These designers are among the best in product design of outdoor equipment. They
employ the stages of the design process to produce outdoor wear and equipment that incorporate
both functionality and aesthetics. In this sense, I was inspired to take up my design projects
following in their footsteps. I was thus able to utilize their knowledge and to incorporate it into
my designs of outdoor gear projects as well as in the mobile application design project.
Historical Development of Outdoor Equipment
Outdoor equipment and gear have evolved from the 19
th
century to the 21
st
century. The
evolution is due to technology, changes in preference of the user, convenience of the
equipment’s use, and purpose of the activity. Technology has facilitated faster and accurate
manufacture of materials and devices used in making outdoor equipment. The consequence of
advancement of technology is that there are more choices for users to pick from regarding the
5
kind of equipment they want for an outdoor activity, the equipment and gear are cheaper than
they were before and can be easily accessed. The outdoor enthusiast of the 21
st
century is
different from that of the 19
th
century
1
. The two individuals have developed different tastes and
preferences regarding the kind of outdoor equipment and gear they would prefer for their
camping activity.
Further, technology and advertisement of outdoor equipment as well as the types of
environments accessible have altered current outdoor enthusiast’s tastes and preferences
2
. The
convenience of the use of the equipment led to the evolution of outdoor equipment as companies
are producing better and more reliable equipment compared to the years before. The previously
bulky equipment has been replaced with lighter and compartmentalized equipment and ones that
can be assembled and disassembled easier adding more convenience for the user. Lastly, the
purpose of the outdoor activity has led to the evolution of the outdoor equipment. Previously,
outdoor activities involved study and research. The equipment and gear of the past was designed
for functionality and longevity. Currently, most outdoor activities involve enjoyment, adventure,
and fun. Thus, the equipment is designed with an aesthetic appeal to reflect these market
segments.
Outdoor equipment continues to evolve in accordance with trends in outdoor lifestyles.
The kind of equipment people rig themselves for outdoor activities in contemporary times are
soft and functional compared to the inferior equipment our forebearers used. For instance, the
tent used to successfully climb Mt. Everest for the first time in 1953 was made of heavy cotton
1
Abell, P. 2018. "My path to adventure." Adventure Tourism and Outdoor Activities Management: a 21st century
toolkit. 193.
2
Ibid, 193.
6
canvas materials. This aspect of design made them cumbersome and susceptible to wetness as
well as having poor temperature regulation
3
. The ropes used for the mountaineering excursion
were made of hemp and were tied directly around the mountaineer’s body. However, just 60
years later, extreme outdoor enthusiasts use carbon-fiber synthetic skinned material tents used
today. The ropes used by current mountaineers are more flexible and stronger nylon pieces with
harnesses and grips that improve support.
The clear differences between the experience of Ernest Shackleton’s in the failed
Antarctic expedition elaborates just how easy current enthusiasts have it these days. Outdoor
enthusiasts of his era take different approaches from those of current times. One doesn’t
necessarily have to spend nights in a freezer or sleep in a frozen animal skin sleeping bag during
winter to understand the benefits that conventional synthetic or nylon sleeping bags offer.
Animal skin performs poorly compared to modern material sleeping bags in cold environments.
Ideally, current extreme outdoor enthusiasts not only carry a modern sleeping bag but come with
at least two sleeping pads for insulation from the cold. The bags are a combination of inflatable
and solid form pads. One cannot simply fathom the hardships endured by golden age explorers
that necessitated the development of outdoor equipment to their current state.
Furthermore, it’s not only the equipment that makes the lives of modern outdoor and
adventure enthusiasts easier, but navigation, consistency, and route convenience influences
adventure. For example, the first Europeans to arrive at the Grand Canyon were Spanish soldiers
in 1540. The soldiers were commanded by García López de Cárdenas
4
and for three days. As his
3
Gibbs, David, and Lewis Holloway. 2018. "From experience economy to experience landscape: The example of
UK trail centres." Area 50.2 248-255.
4
Herbert E. Bolton, Coronado: Knight of Pueblos and Plains (Albuquerque, N.M.: The University of New Mexico
Press, 1964), pp. 54, 139-140.
7
group were suffering from dehydration, the expedition would have failed if they couldn’t reach
to the Colorado River for drinkable water. Nevertheless, after a few attempts, most of the group
failed to descend from the cliff to the water. In the end, his party was forced to return. Also, Civil
War veteran John Wesley
5
led a long expedition to the Colorado River, aiming to run the river
all the way down to Nevada. His group carried wooden boats, building supplies, a year’s worth
of food supply, and ammunition
6
. Nevertheless, towards the end of the expedition, after a few
attempts, most of the group left due to the fear of the rapids in the Colorado River. But today, the
evolution of the design and functionality of the outdoor equipment has necessitated the formation
of regular trails along the canyon to enable outdoor enthusiasts to find their way easily, unlike
during García López de Cárdenas’s era. Similarly, people can use inflatable rubber rafts when
heading down the Colorado River, making it much easier and safer to continue with the
adventure and detect the beauty of nature.
Clothes are primarily purposed for the provision of protection from the elements. They
are the most sourced outdoor equipment in the market. People used to wear multiple clothing
when venturing into the cold outdoor environment until 1936 when Eddie Bauer developed a
modern down coat and produced it for the mass users. Also, contemporary rubber Vibram soles
were made in 1937 to replace soles fashioned with nails to increase traction
7
. In addition,
outdoor marine environment equipment such as the neoprene wetsuit was invented in 1952 and
scuba masks in the 1960s. From these examples, one can see how outdoor equipment has
drastically evolved from earlier outdoor expeditions. Anything someone wore or used in their
everyday wardrobe could be considered outdoor equipment. The more separated humankind has
5
David, Biello. 2017. "The Colorado River and Its unnatural word" The New York Times
6
Licul, Ivana. 2018. "Glamping-New outdoor accommodation." Ekonomska Misao \ Praska 27.2 621
7
Cordell, H. K. 2008. "The latest trends in nature-based outdoor recreation." Forest History Today 18.
8
become from a life in natural surroundings, the more outdoor equipment humankind has invented
for activities into the progressively unknown ‘wild.’
Some equipment makes absolute sense to acquire and use whereas other equipment
becomes obscure to the environment itself, placing a barrier of artifice between outdoor
enthusiasts and nature. To a certain extent, clothes create a barrier between one and one's
environment. Some individuals rock climb barefoot to feel the rocks better than those using
shoes
8
. People also hike in thin soled moccasins to feel and grip the trail better. Conversely
people do not climb mountains of ice without gloves, goggles, and coats to provide warmth
while they are in a frozen environment.
Individual Projects
I have worked on several projects that have integrated design and aesthetic elements. I
worked on a tent project that involved redesigning conventional camping tents so that it could
accommodate several people simultaneously. I also worked on a sleeping bag design that
incorporates mobility and aesthetics depending on the preferences of the individual using the
sleeping bag. I also integrated pet sleeping bags for outdoor enthusiasts who love participating in
outdoor activities with their pets. Being an artist and designer, I also created camping drawings
with a tent in them, to describe the awesome and colorful world that the outdoor aesthetics bring
to people. I worked on animations to emulate different outdoor environments that inform
enthusiasts about the colorful experience they are likely to encounter while in nature. Lastly, I
worked on a mobile app design that prioritizes the preparation and awareness of outdoor activity
planning by ensuring that the participants are well geared with the right equipment for any
8
Jones, Tommy. 2021. The Importance Of Using Safety Gear & Equipment For Outdoor Sports. May 12. Accessed
August 24, 2021.
9
outdoor event. All these projects involved a great deal of design thinking, testing and aesthetic
decisions which are key to providing solutions for current problems that users face in the outdoor
environment. Ideally, one must think like the outdoors to find solutions about the outdoors. This
section explains more about these projects.
Project 1: Redesigned Tent
Conventionally camping tents take up a triangular or pyramid shape that involves erecting
poles on the ground to act as pillars and anchors of the tent. The conventional shape provides
adequate spacing for the participants but has several challenges that called for redesigning. These
challenges include the inclusion of critical elements such as a heating pad, an increase in the
height of the tent regarding an increase in the number of users, limited spaces for camping
especially involving many people per tent, and environmental sustainability regarding the
materials used in conventional tents. Therefore, bearing these factors in mind, I sought to find
solutions to these problems by combining the redesign with aesthetics and practicality. My
proposal is a complete overhaul of the conventional camping tent.
The redesign of the conventional tent involved changing the structure from the triangular
or pyramid shape to dome-shaped and can be bent around a corner or fit a certain shape. The
main anchors would be semicircular bars that can be anchored on the ground with stems
connecting them and bending around corners to fit different shapes. The tent would then be
wrapped around the anchors, saving the amount of space conventional tents would have used to
accommodate a single tent, especially in places with minimal space. I dubbed it a “chain tent,”
and it involves connecting different tent sections as if linked in a chain. Also, the bending creates
more space for people to sleep in, unlike the conventional tent. Below is a sketch of the tent.
10
Figure 1: Tent redesign
The chain tent also has bends with corner spaces to accommodate heating pads per section or as
part of the tent. Due to aspects of conventional heating, by utilizing the carbon nano-tube heating
methodology, the heating pads could be applied around the corners and disseminate heat
throughout the tent. The bending shape offers more space, aesthetics, and function. Overall, the
additions and changes the “chain tent” design offers a more comfortable and elevated camping
experience.
Project 2: Redesigned Sleeping Bag
Conventional sleeping bags have a rectangular shape and are bulky to carry around,
especially when taking part in long excursions outdoors. Even though they are functional, most
of them do not have proper aesthetics, are not comfortable, and do not accommodate the user's
mobility. Therefore, in the redesigning process, I was inspired by Benji Wagner, who is the co-
founder and designer of outdoor brand “Poler.” With Wagner’s idea of the technical innovation
11
and product design solutions, I was motivated to integrate aspects of user mobility, aesthetic
design, and heating capabilities that most conventional sleeping bags do not have. Below is an
image of the redesigned sleeping bag.
Figure 2: Redesigned Sleeping Bag 1
The inclusion of a heating pad caters to extreme outdoor enthusiasts who would want to
venture into extremely cold environments and regulate their body temperatures without using
standby heaters or leaving the sleeping bags. The new sleeping bag incorporates an auto-heated
electronic pad placed at the back section of the sleeping bag, providing a better microclimate in
the user’s atmosphere. The user can control the heating pad through a mobile application. Here, a
user sets the temperature that they want to be in a while in the sleeping bag, and the heating pad
regulates the temperature according to the surrounding temperature. The sleeping bag also has a
mini-power bank that powers the heating pad and can be used to charge mobile devices at the
user's convenience.
12
Regarding the aesthetics aspect of the new sleeping bag, the user can wear it as cloth and
move with it. The shape takes up the external anatomy of the wearer, such as head, arms, and
legs, and ensures that each section is well-covered, and the user can move around by simply
detaching the bottom half-section. A 360-degree zip separates the bottom half-section. Unlike
conventional sleeping bags whereby one had to get out of to move an arm or the whole body, this
sleeping bag accommodates spaces for the arms through extra sleeves and legs, making mobility
easier. The sleeping bag comes in many colors depending on the outdoor environment, user
preference, and color scheme. The sleeping bag redesign also incorporates young adults or
children's preferences. Ideally, I designed smaller and ergonomic sleeping bags for children to
mimic general items such as vases, toys, and food such as hotdogs. The sleeping bags were
intended to be more visually appealing to outdoor fans and have elements of fun as they were
designed based on familiar items. The purpose of redesigning the sleeping bag was to
incorporate mobility, aesthetics, and technology that conventional sleeping bags lack.
Figure 3: Redesigned Sleeping Bag 2
13
Further, I considered designing a sleeping bag for pets to accommodate outdoor
enthusiasts who have pets and want to include them when taking part in outdoor excursions. I
also have a pet dog that I love and would want him warm and protected when going for outdoor
excursions. The pet sleeping bag comes in two sections: a wearable pet jacket part and a zipper
section that the initial wearable pat can be fused into the sleeping bag. The new pet sleeping bag
incorporates both functionality and aesthetic design elements. It also has bright colors to ensure
the visibility of the pet, especially in cases where the pet wanders away. The color combinations
include black and yellow, coral and teal, brown and red, light blue, ultra-purple and blooming
dahlia, vibrant green and grey, and orange and black. The idea stemmed from the lack of pet
products that outdoor enthusiasts can use.
Figure 4: Redesigned Sleeping Bag for Pet
14
Project 3: Color Journal
The color journal is composed of 50 camping drawings, each with a small tent in the
drawing. I visualized the beautiful natural surroundings of the outdoor environment with its
vibrant color scheme as a background of how the interactions of human beings and the
environment should look like. I factored in the small tents in the drawings to indicate a little
sense of adventure in every human being. In addition, the tents show how big the outdoor world
is compared to the norm indoors we are familiar with most of the time. I also made the drawings
because I feel that indoor environments, more so, city life, is noisy, repetitive, routine, and
monotonous. The colors of the outside world are vibrant and provide a sense of peace. There is
equally more adventure in the outside world, even though my drawings are digital. I drew
inspiration from the outdoors- an environment that I love deeply.
Artists such as John Constable and Claude Monet inspired me to fuse elements of
emphasizing emotion, coalescence with nature, abstractness, and elements of freedom. In the
color journal, I visualized the beautiful natural surroundings of the outdoor environment with its
vibrant color scheme as a background of how the interactions of human beings and the
environment should look like. Just like Claude Monet’s oil paintings and Georgia O'Keeffe's
perspective on size and distance in paintings, I factored in the small tents in the drawings to
indicate a little sense of adventure in this visual story. In addition, the tents show how big the
outdoor world is compared to the indoors we are familiar with most of the time.
Escape from city chaos
In this drawing, I depicted a tent on top of a building as a symbol of escape from
everyday life and work. The hustle and bustle of everyday life is challenging, and people
occasionally need a break. The tent, though small, is a representation of the effect of how much
15
of a difference viewing things from other perspectives can make in someone’s life, such as
viewing life differently from the routine of city life. The routine of daily life is sometimes
mentally tiresome and consumes a lot of energy. Therefore, in the drawing, I decided to live in a
tent at the top of a city building, surrounded by other buildings. It is a form of escape for me.
Figure 5: Escape from city chaos
16
Depart from real-life in a boat tent
This piece of art represents the escape from city chaos. It has a boat-tent in the center
background section of the drawing amidst waves that are foaming in the ocean. I imagined how
it would feel to escape the noise and chaos of city life seeking adventure in unknown places yet
providing cover and safety for my mind and body. The boat, though small, is my depiction of the
understanding of how small we are compared to the bigger and grander world of nature in
outdoor environments. I used the color cyan to depict elements of illusion and uncertainty. The
illusion in this perspective comes in through explaining how life in the city can be an illusion of
peace, success, and freedom. Many people seek life in the city as an escape, yet true freedom
exists beyond the boundaries of the normal and routine that we are used to in the city. Also, the
uncertainty involves the desire to discover more about the wild outdoors, such as taking a voyage
in a boat-tent across the vast waters of the world.
17
Figure 6: Depart from real-life in a boat tent
Camping on the beach facing the sunset
I created this drawing for my color journal as part of my desire for camping by the beach.
It is one of the destinations in my adventure life. I used a combination of white and shades of
blue in the drawing. The drawing clearly expresses my mood and my perspective of life. I depict
harmony, calmness, and comfortability as if one with nature. Being under the sunset on a beach
is one of the calmest things I love to experience. The small white tent that looks like a pyramid
resembles the stability one gets when anchored in a peaceful place. The white also shows that it
is clean and neat, as well as comfortable. These are the desires of most people who struggle with
city life and would want an escape to somewhere neat and comfortable. The tent throws a
18
shadow behind it, indicating that one must comprehend the ills of life but focus on the good
parts. I also drew the sunset, slightly lost in the clouds, to depict the uncertainty of life since no
one really figures everything out in the first place. In addition, the ocean was depicted as vast
and calm as it took close to half of the space in the drawing. It represents the calmness of nature
undisturbed by the activities of human beings.
Figure 7: Camping on the beach facing the sunset
Tent on a moon
This piece includes two drawings. One is a tent hanging on a crescent moon and the other
is one anchored on the surface of the moon, as if looking out to the larger galaxy. I created these
drawings because I want to explore the most exciting places that have not been disturbed by
human beings. There are place I would also want to live there for a long time. In both drawings, I
used the dark blue to depict the mystery of the universe as a representation of the unexplored
outdoors. The tent hanging on a yellow crescent moon, it shows how much I would love to live
19
on the edge of nature and experience all its wildness. The tent on the surface of the moon depicts
looking at life from a unique perspective.
Figure 8: Tent on a moon.
Tent in snowy mountain, grassland, and wonderland
These are drawings depicting the pitching of tents in different outdoor environments each
with a different purpose as escape from city life. The tent on a snowy mountain depicts the
magnificence of nature amidst having peace in a quiet and beautiful environment. I used white
and shades of blue in the image to depict peace and harmony. Also, the trees have snow on them
showing how harmonious elements of nature are when undisturbed by human activities. Ideally,
the image depicts how interesting nature is when one goes outdoors even during wintry weather.
The tent in the grassland shows the beauty of the green environment. A brown tent blends with
the environment to produce calm surroundings as well as showing the quality and durability of
the structure. The tent in an immersive atmosphere shows the depth in which one can contact
nature if one lets go of oneself and enjoys the outdoors. The blue and white color palette is exotic
20
and attractive. The tent in this wonderland is my dream of a perfect and beautiful landscape
including mountains, cliffs, grassland, waterfall, trees, floating clouds, with a blend of colors to
show the beauty of nature.
Figure 9: Tent in snow mountain
Figure 10: Tent in grassland
21
Figure 11: Tent in skyline
Figure 12: Tent in wonderland
22
Project 4: Outdoor Hiking Animation
I also made an outdoor hiking animation video. In the animation, the man walks up the
mountain with high snowy peaks in the Himalayan mountains, wearing the proper outdoor
equipment and gear up for the specific excursion. The animation represents the difficulty and
danger of taking up extreme outdoor excursions such as climbing the Himalayan Mountains and
shows the excitement and joy of conquering the mountain. I made the animation because I
wanted to use a different media approach to describe enthusiasts' outdoor life and environment.
As a form of art, the animation presents a different aesthetic to outdoor activities and would
inspire people to take up such adventures.
Figure 13: Outdoor Hiking Animation
23
Project 5: Outdoor “Gear-Up” Mobile Application
Technology and advertisement of outdoor equipment as well as the types of environments
accessible have altered current outdoor enthusiast’s tastes and preferences (Cordell, 2008). The
convenience of the use of the equipment led to the evolution of outdoor equipment as companies
are producing better and more reliable equipment compared to the years before. The previously
bulky equipment has been replaced with lighter and compartmentalized equipment or ones that
can be assembled and disassembled easier and at the convenience of the user. Lastly, the purpose
of the outdoor activity has led to the evolution of the outdoor equipment. Previously, outdoor
activities involved study and research. The equipment and gear back then were designed for
functionality and longevity. Currently, most outdoor activities involve enjoyment, adventure, and
fun. Thus, the equipment is designed with an aesthetic appeal for different audience. This change
in design has led to my creation of a mobile application that provides information to outdoor
enthusiasts concerning equipment, places to purchase, the prices, and the areas with great
outdoor experience.
The mobile application is one of my design solutions to solve the problem of the proper
equipment and preparedness for the great outdoors. The essence of mobile applications is to
enable users to have easy, functional access to information, products, services, and the processes
that they need in real-time optimized for hands on interaction. Ideally, the outdoor mobile
application provides such conveniences to outdoor enthusiasts. Also, the application would ease
the ordering of a product in just a few clicks. This ease is faster and less stressful for many than
making a phone call for the same purpose or requiring the camper to physically go to the store to
acquire the merchandise. The mobile application will also enable sellers to receive feedback on
24
the use of their products and quality of their service, boosting both their performance and their
users' experience.
The application provides a central place where all possible information concerning
outdoor events, equipment, and checklists, outdoor enthusiasts would highly benefit from the
resource. It provides assistance for people to know what to acquire, where, and how, and what
they can use for outdoor adventures. There is currently no application designed specifically for
planning outdoor travels, individuals have to source different information from different sites or
sources, leaving them even more confused about going about their outdoor adventure. The
outdoor enthusiasts also have inadequate sources of information about outdoor gear unless they
obtain it directly from sellers of outdoor gear. As a result, the application facilitates
communication between outdoor event planners and offers information about outdoor
equipment, and provides a checklist to ensure that the individuals are well prepared for the
activity.
25
Figure 14: Outdoor Mobile Application
26
Conclusion
The outdoor experience offers unique challenges and degrees of risk, as well as
opportunities for understanding the natural world. My designs and research contents are at the
core of providing solutions to the problems people face in the outdoor environment. By utilizing
comprehensive design thinking and creative strategies, my design projects aim to properly
understand the user pain points, identify existing challenges, and successfully generate a series of
outdoor experience enhancements. As a designer my passion and continuous challenge is not
only solve problems, but better leverage outdoor experience for all outdoor enthusiasts, turning
the outdoor into a fascinating and appealing place to experience.
27
Bibliography
1. Abell, P. (2018). My path to adventure. Adventure Tourism and Outdoor Activities
Management: a 21st century toolkit., 192-195
2. Conor. (2020, April 22). The History of Topo Designs with Jedd Rose. Retrieved September
10, 2021
https://www.99percentlifestyle.com/topo-designs-history-with-jedd-rose/
3. Cordell, H. K. (2008). The latest trends in nature-based outdoor recreation. Forest History
Today, 14-30.
4. Dam, R. F., & Siang, T. Y. (2021, March 12). 5 stages in teh Design Thinking Process.
Retrieved September 12, 2021
https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/5-stages-in-the-design-thinking-process
5. David, Biello. 2017. "The Colorado River and Its unnatural word" The New York Times
6. Gibbs, D., & Holloway, L. (2018). From experience economy to experience landscape: The
example of UK trail centres. Area 50.2, 248-255.
7. Jones, T. (2021, May 12). The Importance Of Using Safety Gear & Equipment For Outdoor
Sports. Retrieved August 24, 2021
8. Licul, I. (2018). Glamping-New outdoor accommodation. Ekonomska Misao \ Praska 27.2,
621.
9. Wagner, B. (2021, July 15). Benji Wagna: The Future of Stuff. Retrieved September 12, 2021
https://www.strukturevent.com/benji-wagner-the-future-of-stuff/
10. Wolfe, S. (2020, May 14). The 30 Most Popular Modern and Contemporary Artists.
Retrieved September 9, 202
https://magazine.artland.com/30-popular-contemporary-artists/
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Asset Metadata
Creator
Wan, Youwei
(author)
Core Title
Design for the outdoor experience
School
Roski School of Art and Design
Degree
Master of Fine Arts
Degree Program
Design
Degree Conferral Date
2021-12
Publication Date
11/17/2021
Defense Date
12/10/2021
Publisher
University of Southern California
(original),
University of Southern California. Libraries
(digital)
Tag
Design,digital,Drawing,OAI-PMH Harvest,outdoor,Sports
Format
application/pdf
(imt)
Language
English
Contributor
Electronically uploaded by the author
(provenance)
Advisor
Wojciak, Ewa (
committee chair
), Ellenberg, Jason (
committee member
), Trujillo, Osvaldo (
committee member
)
Creator Email
wywalex970610@gmail.com,youweiwa@usc.edu
Permanent Link (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-oUC17138303
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UC17138303
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etd-WanYouwei-10239
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Wan, Youwei
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(batch),
University of Southern California
(contributing entity),
University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses
(collection)
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Repository Location
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Tags
outdoor