Beyond The Jacket
For The North Face @ SFMOMA
The Jacket: Layers of Storytelling
This installation, designed in collaboration with Grayscale Design Studio and fabricated by Austin Custom CNC, is a parametrically designed recreation of the iconic Nuptse Jacket made from more than 200 individual interlocking sheets of post-consumer recycled cardboard. The jacket's form is embedded into this gallery space and tunneled through to create an inhabitable galley experience. Within the structure, display recesses are carved away from the tunnel's interior to create nine unique vignettes designed to showcase the real-life story behind each product. The installation design ensures landfill diversion principles by using only materials that can be recycled, upcycled, or reused.
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Explore the influence of The North Face's iconic Nuptse jacket by creating a larger-than-life walkthrough experience highlighting stories from the jacket's history.
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In the spirit of The North Face launching its first-ever circular design product line, the installation is designed using fully recycled and recyclable materials. No glue or plastics of any kind were used in the creation of the structure.
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Design: ERL & Grayscale Studio
Build: Austin Custom CNC
Agency: UEG
Photos: Rob Williamson
Photos by Rob Williamson
In collaboration with Grayscale Studio
The Event
Installed in SFMOMA's white box gallery, the "It's More Than a Jacket" experience featured an installation comprised of used The North Face jackets and products on loan from brand partners ranging from athletes to designers, to consumers. Some of the stories within this experiential archive include those from The North Face athletes such as Alex Honnold, Jimmy Chin and Ingrid Backstrom; designers Mark Erickson and Angelo Baque; cultural icon and artist RZA, and many more. Each piece's unique story will showcase what these jackets have meant to the people who have worn them throughout the years.
Video courtesy of Vito Ziccardi
The entire installation was designed to be flat-packed and installed in 24 hours using no glue, fasteners, or power tools.
Installation Materials:
Post-consumer recycled cardboard, kraft paper tape, wood fiberboard, and pre and post-customization materials from The North Face Renewed Design Residency.
