New studies state that climate change is projected to harm snow reliability in ski resorts, resulting in shorter ski seasons, increased snowmaking demand and low-lying ski areas may cease to exist. Open Wear is a sustainable outerwear brand that uses sustainable materials a
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New studies state that climate change is projected to harm snow reliability in ski resorts, resulting in shorter ski seasons, increased snowmaking demand and low-lying ski areas may cease to exist. Open Wear is a sustainable outerwear brand that uses sustainable materials and ethical production to produce clothing from 100% recycled plastic. The brand promotes sustainability in the winter sports industry but acknowledges the potential impact of climate change on the industry and its existence. The report discusses the potential changes in the winter sports industry due to ecological changes, economic interests, human experiences, and cultural values. By creating a worldview of winter sports in 2040 and designing a concept product there has been explored how the brand can innovate in this changing world. The ‘Vision in Product’ method has been used, which focuses on the ‘raison d’etre’ and uses a worldview created from various context factors such as trends, developments, and principles to design a future vision. The company’s strengths, weaknesses and potential opportunities have been analyzed, stating that especially the Open Wear community can be a great asset in the future. Literature research indicates that winter sports can still be practiced for decades to come, but low ski areas or ski areas with unfavorable locations in terms of snowfall will have to deal with less snow in the coming years. The amount of snow-reliable days seem to be decreasing exponentially. To understand the impact of these and other factors on the worldview of 2040, driving forces have been created by forming clusters of these factors. A prediction has been made about what the world will look like in 20 years. Open Wear wants to encourage environmentally conscious people to moderate their ski behavior and to keep enjoying their outdoor escapes. They can do this by making multi-sport vacations more accessible by designing clothing that is created around conditions instead of sports. A digital platform for collaboratively creating future-proof products has been designed to switch from winter clothing to multi-sport clothing. In this way, Open Wear can motivate people to continue to enjoy their outdoor escapes sustainably, without being dependent on a changing climate.