PACER KAYAK

This project brief initially called for designing a sit-inside kayak for a different brand made to compete with other sub 10 feet kayaks on the market. Despite changes to the brief during the design process, I was able to utilize current kayak market research to help create a sit inside kayak for Lifetime that was comfortable and optimized for the growing number of young female kayakers. 

The market research I compiled provided a good direction that helped guide my sketch process. The three key take-aways from my research were:

1.  We needed a shorter kayak that would be easier to lift onto cars and to store after use 

2.  It was essential that the cockpit was easy to get out of in the event that the user flipped over while paddling

3.  The seat back needed to be comfortable yet wouldn't get in the way in the event the user needed to bail out. 

At this point in the ideation process the brand we were designing for no longer wanted us to produce the kayak. This required a pivot where I needed to make the aesthetics of the hull align better with the brand design language of the existing Lifetime kayak lineup.