How can we keep surfers connected while in the water without interrupting their desire to escape and go beyond the grid?

The Problem:

Design a product for nomadic individuals that keeps them in touch without inflicting upon the escapism they desire.

The Solution:

A wearable and supplemental app for surfers to track activity in the water and provide them with limited, necessary notifications.

Researching S.E.T. factors of Surfing

the social, economic and technological factors of surfing that will help determine design mandates moving forward.

SOCIAL

Socially, surfing has many different layers. in certain areas of the world, surfing is a social activity, but for some it can become a sport and a career causing the individual to live a nomadic life chasing their next wave.

ECONOMIC

Economically, surfing has potential to be very expensive or a source of income. A surfer must invest in equipment in order to do their sport and travel expenses to get to surf destinations. but those who succeed often become sponsored.

TECHNOLOGICAL

There are many different types of wetsuits for a surfer to choose from based on their environment. some must keep the user warm in frigid water, some must be more flexible for higher activity but some prioritize their safety from predators in the water.

Concept Ideation

When I began ideating, I was unsure of how this would translate into physical form. I began with a wetsuit with built in technology then ideated wetsuit and wearable packages before settling on a wearable and supplemental app to accommodate for both warm and cold water surfers.

User Feedback:

I brought my ideas to surfers and asked for feedback on attachment methods and interface of the device to narrow down its functionality.

Spencer || Age 28 || Surfing 5 Years

Amelia || Age 27 || Surfing 15+ Years

Barret || Age 25 || Surfing 3 Years

Justin || Age 25 || Surfing 3 Years

Key Insights:

Attach the device to the surf leash because the surfer is already accustomed to wearing that around the ankle and it will be least distracting in that location.

Notifications must not be distracting and does not allow users to call and text in the water but rather receive basic notifications, track activity, and keep track of time.