Main Project Inspiration

I believe I have two personal aesthetics, and I am undecided on which aesthetic I will choose to base my project off. I am going to get into my first personal aesthetic, athleisure. Since childhood, I have been immersed in a culture of sports and outdoor adventure; I think my identity has been defined by sports and athletic ware. The athleisure aesthetic includes practicality with style a reflection of long days on ski slopes and athletics like baseball, basketball, football and hockey. This style draws heavily on early to mid‑20th century design movements such as Bauhaus and Modernism, which includes clean lines, geometric precision, and highly functionality. There are many companies that embody this aesthetic, including Lululemon, Nike, New Balance, Alo, and Vuori (Image 1)- show aesthetic).

The Bauhaus philosophy, with its main focus on simplicity and purposeful design, echoes in every piece of athletic‑inspired wear I choose. Just as designers in that era stripped away the unnecessary functional beauty, the clothes in my closet emphasize versatile clothing that transition seamlessly from clean and sleek outfits for work to clothes for a workout. I think the idea of modernism includes the idea of progress and rationality which I think further shows my aesthetic, where every fabric and cut is a deliberate nod to efficiency and clarity. Athletic wear becomes not just clothing. It is extremely comfortable, which is what I most care about, but now, I can wear it to work, to class, or to lunch. While I deeply value these influences, they also serve as a reminder that style is ever‑evolving. Although my primary creative projects have long adhered to the athleisure sensibility, I am not yet sure how I could incorporate this aesthetic into my project. I was leaning towards potentially using old skis to make a chair (Image 2, Featured Image), or something of the like, but I am still unsure.

To make a transition to my other potential aesthetic of adventurecore, which is rooted in a lifetime spent exploring Colorado’s mountains since I was very young. I have climbed 32 14ers of the 58 in Colorado and have been skiing since I was three years old. This style is an ode to rugged terrain, experiences, and the thrill of discovery, inspired by countless days skiing, hiking, and engaging with nature’s beauty. Unlike the polished minimalism of athleisure, adventurecore embraces an organic spirit which reflects the unpredictable and potentially dangerous aspect of the outdoors.

When it comes to 20th‑century design movements, I think this aesthetic relates to in elements of Brutalism and Organic Architecture. Brutalism’s honest expression of raw materials, including its unrefined textures and bold, uncompromising forms portrays the rugged environments that have shaped my years. Meanwhile, the organic elements forms celebrated by architects like Frank Lloyd Wright (Image 3) encourage a design that really focuses on natural surroundings. This blend of aesthetics creates a look that is both utilitarian and artful.

My experiences high of reaching the top of a 14er to quiet moments in the snow on my skis inform every choice in my personal style. As for this project, I am completely unsure which aesthetic I plan to go off. I think creating something that I could use in the outdoors during my expeditions could be useful, but something I could hang in my wall the reflects athleisure would also be an interesting project

Works Cited

Image 1: People in Athleisure, 2023: Athleisure Photos, Download The BEST Free Athleisure Stock Photos & HD

Image 2 and Featured Image: A chair made from skis, something I potentially could make for this project, 2025: Adirondack Chair Made With Reclaimed Snow Skis – Etsy

Image 3: Falling Water by Frank Lloyd Wright, a painting, 2021: Frank Lloyd Wright Paintings