Mt. Rainier Topographical Map
As ski season approached, I set out to design a custom ski topsheet inspired by the terrain I've been spending the most time in. Living and skiing outside Seattle, I centered the graphic on a topographic map of Mt. Rainier.
Concept
This project started as an opportunity to explore visual design through a personal lens, taking the terrain I ride and turning it into something you can actually see.
While researching, I came across the topographic map of Mount Rainier and immediately knew it was the right foundation. The contour lines felt native to ski culture, and the mountain itself felt like an honest reference point.
The design concept centers on thermochromic paint, a material that responds to temperature. The topographic lines begin orange at rest, and as the skis get cold on the mountain, they gradually transition to white. The terrain reveals itself as you ride it.
To make the concept more tangible in the near term, I translated the design into a poster, something I can live with, refine, and reference while the larger vision takes shape.