Snowskate Skate for soft and hard snow by KT Architects

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DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

KA : The main principle is to unite older known snow skating technique with solid and effectively usable materials. Based on the older local used snow skates and the particular technique to bind, the idea and inspiration is to develop a good and practical design which supports the demands that skating in this special edition set of performance.

DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

KA : The main focus of the project is put into finding the optimal design that satisfies the desire for perfect alignment partly to the boots and partly to the features skates must meet for different snow conditions i.e. soft snow on sloping grass grown terrain, as hard snow on both sloping and flat areas, and functionality to different skating techniques and performances.

DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?

KA : The plan is to market the project as a concept for winter sports and recreational play as put up a production and manufacture. The target audience is adults and children in areas and countries where winter sports are common.

DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?

KA : The design was originally done in 2000, and about 150 pair of skates produced and sold in sports shops in the Faroe Islands. It took approximate two months to carry out the full design.

DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

KA : The design was done because of the risk that the original wooden snow skate would go into oblivion. A very few people knew about the special tie technique, which could be forgotten, and it was therefore decided to make a new and updated design and in proper quality materials.

DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?

KA : The design is not yet in a production, and it is being considered which model will be most suitable to reach a broad base of customers.

DI: What made you design this particular type of work?

KA : The snow skate was in practice until mid-1960, and was decided to make a new and good design in quality materials. One reason was for not forgetting this particular skate, another for adding an original quality product to the market.

DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?

KA : No one supported for this design.

DI: Who is the target customer for his design?

KA : The primary audience is children and young people who want games and sports in the snow.

DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

KA : The major difference from this design to similar to snow skates is that ordinary boots are used, and further the use of a traditional and older tie technique. Further a difference is in the combination of material selection in wood and stainless steel.

DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

KA : Function and application makes the name, which is the original.

DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

KA : Design tools were partly drawing in auto cad and the practical performance of the prototype, which was tested for performance. Especially the heel of the skate at the height between the steel runner and the boot is essential. From the test the design was edited until the optimum skating became a reality.

DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?

KA : The most unique aspect of the skate is its streamlined adaptation to an average boot profile, next its combination of materials and the important tie technique.

DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?

KA : No cooperation has been with any other people with special design skills, even a carpentry workshop and smithy has done the work cutting materials.

DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?

KA : There is no special technology used more than the prior art for the performance of the skate in combination with the associated tie technique.

DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?

KA : Of crucial importance is the adjustment to an boot average profile with heel. Here a large number of boots in different sizes were analyzed to find the optimal design solution. Other analyzes were performed according to the older skate design and performance capabilities.

DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

KA : The biggest challenge was to find the optimal cross-section. The skate width combined to its height.

DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

KA : As an architect specialized in building, construction and design, and a former bronze prize winner in A`Design Award & Competition, I thought it was obvious to participate once again with the new snow skate design.

DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?

KA : Experience with improvements in design tasks of this kind shows that it is important to perform specific tests and improve and optimize the design for the intended optimal functionality.

DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?

KA : No, further remarks are not necessary.