Specified topic

This culture storyline will offer an overview of the cultural concerns of the design process for a
hand warmer to be used after kitesurfing. Please note that this report is intended for educational
purposes only and no real concept has been designed. This study will concentrate on the
cultural and user factors that must be considered while building a hand warmer for kiteboarders

Insights from earlier study

The first report discussed the evolution of kite surfing as a sport, noting that advancements in
safety have made it less risky and more accessible to a wider range of people. The increasing
popularity of kiting, particularly through the use of social media, has led to a more diverse group
of participants, including women and people of color. However, the largest demographic of kite
surfers is still white men. The report also highlighted that the increased demand for kiting gear
has led to a rise in prices, which has resulted in a strong culture of gear repair within the kiting
community.

Who and where?

Meet Emily, a young urban professional in her late 20s. She works as a marketing manager in a
tech start-up company and lives in a trendy apartment in the city. Emily is ambitious, outgoing
and always on the go. She is a part of the fast-paced urban lifestyle and is always looking for
new experiences and challenges.

Emily is a brand-conscious individual, and she identifies with brands that align with her active
and adventurous lifestyle. She is a fan of Patagonia and North Face for their sustainability
efforts and outdoor-oriented products.

In her free time, Emily enjoys staying active and exploring the outdoors. She is an avid runner
and enjoys hiking and camping on weekends. Kite surfing is her latest adventure and she goes
on one or two kite-surfing trips per year. She is always looking for ways to improve her skills and
enjoys the challenge of mastering a new sport.

Emily has a comfortable salary, making around 50.000 euros a year from her job as a marketing
manager. She is active on social media and uses it to keep in touch with friends, share her
experiences and connect with like-minded people. Emily discovered kite surfing through social
media, and it quickly became one of her favorite activities.

On her kite-surfing trips, She likes to stay in luxury hostels as she enjoys the social aspect of
meeting new people from different places and cultures. She likes the vibe and atmosphere of
hostels and how easy it is to connect with fellow travelers.
Emily likes to visit exotic locations known for their strong winds and beautiful beaches. Some of
her favorite kiting destinations include Mexico, Brazil, and the Caribbean.

In addition to her trips to exotic locations, Emily also enjoys kiting in Europe. Some of her
favorite European kiting destinations include Tarifa in Spain, which is known for its strong winds
and beautiful beaches, and Cumbuco in Portugal, which is a popular spot for kite surfers of all
levels. She likes the variety of the locations, the different winds and the cultural differences that
come with it. She also likes how easy it is to reach these destinations by plane or car, and the
convenience of being able to kite in different seasons in Europe.

How does your concept influence the current culture?

The design and cultural impact of a hand warmer specifically designed for kite surfers can have
a significant influence on the kiting culture. One way it can do this is through the spread of
recognition and use of the product within the kiting community.

Due to the hostel culture that is often associated with kiting trips, where participants often share
gear and equipment, the recognition and use of the hand warmer can spread quickly among kite
surfers. This is further amplified by the fact that many kite surfers take kiting holidays overseas,
which can help to globalize the spread of the hand warmer and its recognition within the
community.

Social media also plays a role in the spread of the hand warmer, as kite surfers can easily share
images and information about the product online. This can help to increase awareness and
interest in the hand warmer among a wider audience, both within and outside of the kiting
community.

Finally, the use of the hand warmer can also have an impact on the culture of kiting itself, as it
can help to promote the sport as cool and trendy. This can lead to more people taking up kite
surfing and the use of the hand warmer spreading to people who don't kite. An example of this
phenomenon can be seen in the popularity of UGG boots, which were originally worn by surfers
in Australia, but eventually became popular among a wider audience.

What should your concept do and what not and in relation to whom?
When creating a hand warmer for kite surfers, it is essential to examine which features are
desired and which are not.

A desired feature of the hand warmer is that it adheres to contemporary kite surfing ethics and
conduct. Using a hand warmer that is intended to fit comfortably beneath a wetsuit and does not
restrict mobility, for instance, would be more consistent with the present conduct and etiquette
of kite surfers.

The hand warmer must also be identifiable as a product used by kite surfers. This may
contribute to a feeling of belonging and identification within the kite surfing community, making
the hand warmer a symbol of kite surfing lifestyle membership.

It is essential that the hand warmer does not divide kite surfers from non-kite surfers. There is a
culture of "posers" in skateboarding, in which non-skaters who pretend to be skaters are
ridiculed or made to feel unwanted. This may dissuade non-skaters from getting into
skateboarding. However, kite surfers are older than skateboarders on average, thus the bullying
culture would be diminished. Therefore, the hand warmer should be constructed so as not to
alienate or deter non-kite surfers from participating in the sport. Instead, it should be geared to
promote kite surfing as a sport and way of life to a larger audience.

What could this reflection mean for the properties and form of your design?

The preceding ideas about what is acceptable and undesirable in the design of a hand warmer
for kite surfers have several consequences for the product's shape and qualities.

The hand warmer should fit comfortably beneath a wetsuit and not restrict mobility. This
necessitates that it be both flexible and lightweight, with no bulky or heavy components that
might impede kitesurfing. It should also be simple to put on and remove, with straightforward
buttons for adjusting the heat settings.

- Properties: The hand warmer must be constructed from materials that are resistant to
water, sand, and salt. It should be simple to clean and maintain, and it should come in a
variety of colors and designs to appeal to various preferences. Additionally, it should be
small and portable, making it simple to pack and move.

- Recognizable: The hand warmer should have a design that identifies it as a product
used by kite surfers so that it may act as a symbol of subscribing to the kite surfing
lifestyle. This may be accomplished via the use of kite surfing-specific colors and
materials, or by including kite surfing-related symbols or motifs.

- Inclusive: The design of the hand warmer should not alienate or deter non-kite surfers
from trying the sport. This implies that the design should not be unduly forceful and
should appeal to a broad variety of individuals.