In approaching this project, we took some design cues from early automobile-racing helmets of the 1930s, a time period when wearing a helmet was viewed by many as an unnecessary precaution—an attitude common among many skiers today. It also was a time when hats were an accepted piece of fine-tailored clothing. We wondered if perhaps those early racing helmets had some hat-styled nuances that today's helmets have lost. In an aesthetic sense, helmets should have more in common with clothing than with "equipment." The truth is that people don't like to put equipment on their heads. Consider the evolution of goggles, for example. If the product makes the skier look smart, then the skier will be more likely to wear it. So far, this approach is working with OVO's helmets.

		©2001 Henninge, Inc.