Year
2025
Skills
Story Telling, Branding Design, Form Development, Mock-ups Test
Duration
14 Weeks
Tools
CLO 3D, Figma, Google Gemini, Veo 3
Denali is a formidable, monolithic challenge, especially for solo climbers tackling routes like the Slovak Direct. Solo climbers face extreme terrain, mental stress, and time constraints without team support. This creates an opportunity to design Mental Assistant Products that help them navigate Denali and other snow mountains safely, embody a spirit of resilience and adventure, and align with MSR’s innovative, high-performance outdoor technologies.
Fabric Parts
Flip the fabric to plug in charge
Nylon Spandex
Thermal conductive wire
Fleece Liner
Thermal conductive wire
Fleece Liner
3D Power Mesh
FLEXPRO™ Insulation System
Inner Parts
THERMO CORE™
Bottom Magnet
Wireless Charging
Attach to the neckband
Temperature Sensor
Electric Heating
Batteries
Charging
Nose Support
Forehead Areas
THERMO CORE™
HEAT MODULE TECHNOLOGY
Creek Areas
Forehead Heated Area
Creeks Heated Area
Charging Core
Nose Support
Thermal conductive wire
USB-C Port
BioGrip™ Silicon
skin friendly & grip the skin
Remote Control
Power Switch
Hook on, easy press and differentiate button when wearing gloves during climbing
Mode Change: Auto/Constant Heat
History of MSR
Mountain Safety Research
Since 1969, Seattle, WA
Larry Penberthy, MSR Founder
a tech-minded engineer,
a passionate outdoorsman
to improve the safety of climbing equipment
“Design for durability, longevity, and repair”
“We often hear stories from customers who are still using their MSR stoves from the 1980s”
Inquisitive and Innovated Techonology
1973
The Model 9 Stove
1988
The XGK II stove
2007
The MSR® Reactor® Stove System
1984
MSR® WhisperLite™
backpacking stove
2001
The PocketRocket™ stove
“ Robusted Ignition”
Denali: The Slovak Direct
First Climb
In 1984 by a Slovakian team
Location
Denali's south face
Length
Approximately 9,000 feet (2,700 meters)
Difficulty
Graded VI 5.9X M6+ WI6, the route features technical sections of water ice, rock climbing, and overhanging ice
-
Loose rock
-
Unstable ice
-
Snow
-
Continuous steep sections
-
No natural ledges for safe rest and tent placement
Core Difficulties in the Middle Section: Terrain
60-90° alternating ice and rock slopes, Climbers enter mixed terrain (ice + rock), where technical demands increase and climbing intensity rises.
Climbing Flow & Psychological Change
Cardiovascular load and accelerates perspiration
Internal heat production with external cold exposure
Localized rapid cooling
Shivering or muscle stiffness
Shivering or muscle stiffness
Demanding heightened focus
Psychological stress compounds
“ Formidable Monolith”
Consumer: Solo Climbers
Colin Haley
Born: 1984, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Speed Alpine Climber
Solo Climber
Technical Climber
“My family always resided in Seattle or its suburbs, the Cascade Mountains were always close at hand, and were always our secondary backyard. From that moment on I have been hooked, and climbing mountains has been the primary focus of my life.”
Solo Climber’s Physical and Psychological Change
The body fatigues more easily
The cooling effect after sweating make thermoregulation difficult
Freeze or cause undergarments to ice over
Extreme cold sensitivity, potential frostbite risk
Fatigue, isolation, perceived danger
Increases psychological strain
Breakdowns, loss of focus, fear, or even hallucinations
2010
First solo of Aguaí Stand hardt (route Exocet), among other Patagonia routes
2016
Solo ascent & speed of The Infinite Spur on Mount Foraker in Alaska: solo climbed in 12h29m
2018
Speed record on the Cassin Ridge of Denali in 8h7m
2025
First solo winter ascent of Cerro Torre (winter Ragin Route)
“ Forged Mavericks”
Robusted
Ignition
MSR's Words
Formidable
Monolith
Denali's Words
Forged
Mavericks
Consumer's Words
6 Words' Storyfrom from MSR Brand, Denali, and consumer
What if fire creates independence?
How could heat establishes freedom?
Body Temperature & Mental Freedom
Neuro-thermal Regulation
Localized cold stimulation enhances attention and mental clarity, while warm stimulation reduces anxiety and relaxes muscle tension
Applications
Thermoregulatory Neck Patch
ThermoNeuro Feedback Loop
Localized Thermal Regulation System
Technical Principle: By applying mild heat or cold to specific skin areas (e.g., neck, wrist, waist), it influences the brain's “subjective integration of temperature.”
Utilizes the Peltier Effect to heat or cool localized areas
Product Selection: Why Balaclava?
The face possesses exceptionally dense branches of the trigeminal nerve (CN V) and facial nerve (CN VII), which directly participate in emotional and autonomic nervous system regulation
Neurophysiological Basis
Thermal Conductivity and Control Efficiency
Cutaneous Temperature Feedback
Cranial Thermoneuromodulation
Design Process
Colorways
West Butterness Sunset Orange / Glacier Depth Blue / Basalt Shadow Grey
McKinley ember / Austere Slate / Tundra Garnet
Frost Veil Blue / Midnight Slate Blue / Tundra Moss Green
Red Clay Terracotta / Sandstone Ridge Brown / Glacier Sand Beige
