Design Preview | Ski Bookends

For my Final Project, I will be making bookends out of skis for my bookshelf. I will be referencing both my aesthetic and the aesthetic I used for the upcycle project, ski bum. These bookends will be both functional and fun, which reflects the core of the ski bum aesthetic. They will be vintage skis and will have a pop of color which reflects my aesthetic. I am very excited to replace my old bookends and bring new life to my bookshelf.

I have talked about the ski bum in past posts, but I will give a brief overview and history of the aesthetic. “Ski Bum” is a term that typically evokes a specific image of someone who makes skiing their number one priority, sometimes even over jobs, housing, or financial stability. The classic ski bum is resourceful, finding ways to live cheaply to maximize time on the mountain. Their aesthetic reflects this lifestyle: thrifted, functional, and often homemade clothing that prioritizes warmth and utility over fashion. This aesthetic is also deeply tied to a DIY attitude with patched-up ski pants, vintage fleece jackets, and mismatched layers thrown together over the years. It is also common to see bright colors and bold patterns, a nod to the vibrant ski culture of the past. Unlike the polished look of luxury resort skiers, ski bums embrace a more carefree and rugged style, one that represents adventure and the love of the sport rather than wealth or status. Ski bums have often been misrepresented as lazy or aimless in modern day media, but in reality, it takes serious dedication and creativity to sustain this lifestyle, especially as skiing becomes increasingly expensive. Today, the ski bum mindset is as much about resourcefulness as it is about rebellion against the commercialization of ski culture.

The ski bum lifestyle emerged in the mid-20th century, but one of the first people to truly embody it was Warren Miller. Warren Miller is considered a pioneer of ski filmmaking, and through his films, he captured the essence of the ski bum lifestyle. Miller lived as a the ski bum before making it famous. In the late 1940s, he lived out of a trailer in Sun Valley, Idaho, spending his days skiing and filming his friends on the slopes. His films showcased skiers who weren’t professionals but were simply passionate about the sport. They worked odd jobs like bartending, ski instructing, waiting tables to afford another season in the mountains. His documentaries helped romanticize the ski bum lifestyle and spread its appeal.

At the same time, the rise of ‘ski towns’ contributed to the ski bum phenomenon. These towns needed seasonal workers, and ski bums filled these roles, working at resorts during the winter in exchange for lift tickets and just enough money to get by. Many lived in small apartments, trailers, or even in their cars to stay close to the mountains. In the 1960s and 70s, the ski bum lifestyle aligned with broader countercultural movements. Young people were rejecting traditional career paths, and for some, skiing became a way to live outside societal norms. 

However, as ski resorts became more commercialized and expensive, maintaining this lifestyle became more difficult. Housing costs in ski towns skyrocketed, and corporate-owned resorts pushed out independent skiers. Today, while ski bumming still exists, it takes even more effort and creativity to sustain.

My aesthetic does not fit into one category. For our assignment a few weeks ago, we were asked to reflect on our personal aesthetics. I found that I could not find one aesthetic that described me. I did however find themes throughout both my decorations and style that I think reflect my aesthetic. I love to decorate with meaningful pieces. To me this means pictures, postcards, movie tickets, maps, and chiefs flags. Overall, I love to have my decorations reflect me and my memories. I like my room to bring me joy and these pieces do that. For my style, I love thrifting. I would say probably 80% of the clothes I own are from the thrift store. I also love a pop of color and layering. My aesthetic is always evolving and has evolved a lot in the last few years. I think that this is the fun part about a personal aesthetic is that it can change whenever you want it to.

So for my project I want to combine both my aesthetic with the ski bum aesthetic because I have been working with it all semester. They already have a few similarities with thrifting and fun colors. I also wanted my project to be functional, like the clothing of the ski bum aesthetic. I have been in need of new bookends so I thought that this was the perfect object to replace with this project. I found an example online while I was looking for inspiration. It is an Esty seller called Ski Artistry. I really liked there design and I am going to try to mimic it. The one piece that I am still not sure about yet is whether or not I will be utilizing the front binding or just a simile metal bracket. The other difference between these and my old bookends is that these ones sit outward so I want to make sure they can handle the same load.

I looked at two other aesthetics, modern and minimalist. There were many bookend options for each and I think my current one fits more into the minimalist aesthetic. I did not change my design based off of these but it did make me think about even the smallest component of a room can impact its overall aesthetic.

Above is my timeline and I will walked through it more below.

1. Design Process Presentation – I will present to my small group about the progress I have made so far and get their input.
2. Get Skis – I am trying to thrift a pair of skis. I have not found any in the store but I have had some luck on Facebook Marketplace. I want to make sure I have a pair before spring break.
3. Begin Manufacturing – My manufacturing process has about four steps as shown below.
   1. Cut about 8 inches for the tip and 5 inches for the tail with a saw
   2. Sand the points of contact and glue together (Gorilla Epoxy). Clamp for the drying process
   3. Use a metal bracket or the front binding of the ski (still deciding) for stability
   4. Paint a design and coat with mod podge
4. Finish Manufacturing – I would like to be done by the second week of April because I have other commitments with Senior Design.
5. Painting – This is a step that I am still unsure about. I am hoping to get a pair of skis with a fun design on them already but if not I think I will try to paint them with inspiration from the ski bum aesthetic, shown below.
6. Presentation – I will present my final product to my small group and get feedback and recommendations
7. Expo – I will show off my product and make any changes from the suggestions from my group.

My vision for this project is a bookend that is able to hold up my books while also fitting into both my aesthetic and the ski bum aesthetic. I am a but concerned about it actually being able to hold of my books because the bookends I have not sit under the books and this one will not. If it does not work I might use this design along with my other bookend or I might try and put rubber feet on the bottom so it does not slide as much. I want the visual aesthetic to reflect a ski but also an art piece. I love something that can be both functional and artistic and I hope this can achieve that.

1. “What Is a Ski Bum?” Newschoolers, www.newschoolers.com/news/read/What-a-Ski-Buma. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
2. Pinterest. “Ski Bum Aesthetic.” Pinterest, www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?rs=ac&len=2&q=ski%20bum%20aesthetic&eq=ski%20bum&etslf=6017. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025
3. “Vintage Ski Bum.” Powder Magazine, www.powder.com/news/vintage-ski-bum. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
4. “Ski Bum Culture Hits Reality.” Adventure Journal, 12 Dec. 2023, www.adventure-journal.com/2023/12/ski-bum-culture-hits-reality/?srsltid=AfmBOorqgyfzz2Bt_ZS2S-h71nhswKVdzQWAifDtMxSpdER0uSZLkd4n. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
5. Pinterest. “Ski Bum.” Pinterest, www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=ski%20bum&rs=typed. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
6. “Ski Bookends.” Etsy, www.etsy.com/listing/262476836/ski-bookends-set-of-2.html. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
7. Jess, The Minimal. “Aesthetic Minimalism vs. Lifestyle Minimalism.” Medium, 19 Apr. 2023, medium.com/@theminimaljess/aesthetic-minimalism-vs-lifestyle-minimalism-4498d2cb85cb. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
8. West Elm. “Bruke Bookend.” West Elm, www.westelm.com/products/bruke-bookend-d18493. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.