Michael Hofler - Creative Director and the designer behind the iconic Arc’teryx logo - talks about his process, the creation of the logo, and the battle between retaining a classic logo versus reimagining it. Behance: https://www.behance.net/HOFLER?locale=en_US Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hoflerdesign/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah ...
Jul 02, 2025•49 min•Ep. 240
On this episode of the History of Gear, Chase Anderson gives a recap of the ORA's recent trip to Tokyo, their collaboration with Beams, and the future of the archive globally. Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industries...
Jun 04, 2025•8 min•Ep. 239
Doug Hintze, OPDD alum, footwear designer, and founder of Landed Footwear, speaks to students about his time in the program as well as professional and entrepreneurial journey. Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industrie...
Apr 07, 2025•42 min•Ep. 238
Jess Arnold, a designer and developer at SPG talks to OPDD students about her role as a developer, the career path, and how the role interacts and differs from others on the product team. Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoo...
Apr 02, 2025•44 min•Ep. 237
Joanna Black, Senior Archivist at the Sierra Club, shares about their work and the archive at the 2025 Outdoor History Summit. Joanna Black Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-m-b-a4880730/ Sierra Club Archives: https://www.sierraclub.org/library Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree traini...
Mar 30, 2025•30 min•Ep. 235
Patrick McColgan, corporate archivist and historian for Abercrombie & Fitch, shares about his work and the corporate collection at the 2025 Outdoor History Summit. Patrick McColgan Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-mccolgan-2389083a/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mccpaddy/?hl=en Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State Unive...
Mar 27, 2025•31 min•Ep. 234
A panel of category/product managers joins the OPDD program for a discussion about their roles, qualities of good product managers, and their pathways into the industry. Julie Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliebrophyrogers/ Rosie Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosiemansfield/ Justin McGregor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcgregor-b3837054/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor...
Mar 26, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 236
Nancy Zastudil, an independent curator, editor, and writer, and one of our 2024 Outdoor Recreation Archive Fellows, presents her research and findings from her time in the Outdoor Recreation Archive at our 2025 Outdoor History Summit. Nancy Zastudil Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-zastudil-68933891/ Website: https://www.thenecessarian.com/#/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product...
Mar 25, 2025•25 min•Ep. 233
Martin Hogue, Associate Professor at Cornell, author of Making Camp, and one of our 2024 Outdoor Recreation Archive Fellows presents his research and findings from his time in the Outdoor Recreation Archive at our 2025 Outdoor History Summit. Martin Hogue: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-hogue-05986363/ Making Camp: https://martinhogue.net/Making-Camp Better Food for our Fighting Men by Matthieu Nicol: https://rvb-books.com/products/matthieu-nicol-better-food-for-our-fighting-men Listen to th...
Mar 23, 2025•30 min•Ep. 232
Erin Narloch, Senior Director at History Factory, speaks as our Outdoor History Summit 2025 Keynote speaker on the importance of archives, how archives and heritage can be used by brands, and the Heritage Gap report. Heritage Gap Report: https://www.historyfactory.com/insights/report/the-heritage-gap-report/ Erin Narloch on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-narloch-past-forward/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast ...
Mar 21, 2025•57 min•Ep. 231
Clint Pumphrey provides a State of the Archives report at our 2025 Outdoor History Summit. Learn about how the archive grew in 2024 and other projects that we’ve been working on. Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industr...
Mar 19, 2025•30 min•Ep. 230
Bill Simon, former executive of The North Face, Converse, Cole Haas, Marmot, and more talks about his start in the outdoor industry making technical garments in Taiwan in the late 70s, the shift to a global outdoor supply chain over the course of his career. Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree tra...
Mar 04, 2025•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 229
Matthieu Nicol, author of Fashion Army, talks about his work as a visual researcher, the influence of military clothing on fashion, and the value of archive and collecting.Learn more about the book: https://www.amazon.com/Fashion-Army-Matthieu-Nicol/dp/1915743575 Matthieu Nicol: https://www.instagram.com/matthieu_nicol/ Vintage Food Photography: https://www.instagram.com/vintage_food_photography/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander...
Feb 23, 2025•43 min•Ep. 228
Henry Iddon and Max Leonard, authors of Mountain Style: British Outdoor Clothing 1953-2000, join the History of Gear to talk about their book, the influence of UK-based outdoor brands, and what makes British outdoor clothing special. Learn more about the book: https://www.isolapress.com/shop/mountain-style Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State ...
Jan 28, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 227
Bob Howe, the tent designer behind iconic tents from Early Winters, Sierra Designs, and The North Face, talks about his career in the outdoor industry. Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industries. Learn more at opdd.usu...
Nov 04, 2024•23 min•Ep. 225
As a special episode for Halloween, we are sharing a previous episode of the History of Gear. Jack Gilbert and others founded Mountain Hardwear on Halloween in 1993. Enjoy this conversation with Jack! Jack Gilbert, former Vice President at The North Face and President of Sierra Designs and founder of Mountain Hardwear, joins the podcast to talk the history of gear. Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Out...
Oct 31, 2024•56 min•Ep. 226
Todd Arenson, founder of Tsunami, talks about the Utah outdoor products industry and the rise of fleece! https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-arenson-052609a/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industries. Learn more at opdd....
Aug 05, 2024•57 min•Ep. 224
Keith Byrne, Senior Manager - Global Brand Education at The North Face talks to students about corporate culture as well as aligning personal and brand values. https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%98%87keith-byrne-7a85227/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product c...
Jul 02, 2024•47 min•Ep. 223
Nancy Grimes, founder of Banana Equipment, talks about starting the company, being a woman in leadership in the outdoor industry, and introducing some of the first Gore-Tex products to the market. Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports a...
Jun 24, 2024•41 min•Ep. 221
Charles Ross, a Lecturer at the Royal College of Art in London, talks to OPDD students about sustainability, performance apparel, and reducing consumption. https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-ross-1464714/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the...
Jun 17, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 222
Randy Merrell, founder of Merrell and the Merrell Foot Lab, talks about his ties to Utah State University, custom boot making, and the founding of Merrell. https://merrellfootlab.com/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor in...
Jun 07, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 220
Ron Smith, founder of American Outdoor Products, talks about the history of backpacking food, buying Dri-Lite and turning it into what is now Backpacker’s Pantry, and 75 years of outdoor food. https://backpackerspantry.com/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of produc...
May 17, 2024•44 min•Ep. 219
Robert Jungmann, founder of Manastash and Jungmaven, talks natural fibers, founding brands, and the early days of hemp clothing in Seattle, Washington. Robert Jungmann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jungmaven/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for t...
May 06, 2024•40 min•Ep. 218
Alumni from the OPDD program, Natalie Cullum, Connor Young, and Jacob Johnson, return to the program to share their experiences and answer questions from current students who are preparing to enter the workforce. Natalie Cullum: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-cullum-b07509126/ Connor Young: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-faux-young/ Jacob Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-johnson-927545206/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast Th...
Apr 24, 2024•51 min•Ep. 217
Damon Morris, VP Outdoor at Elevate Outdoor Collective, talks about his journey into the sports / outdoor industry, the dynamics of working on a product team, and shaking up the ski industry. Damon Morris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonmorris/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the ne...
Apr 12, 2024•49 min•Ep. 215
Paige Koch, designer at Primo Golf Apparel and freelance designer, talks about her journey as a freelancer and shares tips and tricks for those looking designers looking to do the same. Paige Koch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigekoch/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generat...
Apr 03, 2024•50 min•Ep. 214
Steve Brings, founder of WAVE Products, talks about the outdoor industry in Utah in the 70s / 80s, and the origins of his company, which started by making local ski patrol bags for hauling explosives when triggering avalanches. Wave Products: https://waveproducts.com/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate ...
Mar 25, 2024•58 min•Ep. 213
Dr. Rachel Gross, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Colorado Denver and one of our 2022 Outdoor Recreation Archive Fellows, returns to the podcast to talk about her new book, Shopping All the Way to the Woods: How the Outdoor Industry Sold Nature to America. https://rachel-gross.com/my-book/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah Sta...
Mar 18, 2024•42 min•Ep. 212
Greg Thomsen, founder of Wilderness Experience and the force behind the creation of Nike ACG and Adidas Outdoor (US), shares his experience as an executive in the outdoor industry and talks to students about the qualities of great product teams. https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregthomsen/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-ye...
Mar 11, 2024•46 min•Ep. 211
Diane Bristol, VP of Culture & Community at Revelyst, talks to students about how to connect their personal values to those of a brand, and how to identify positive or negative company culture during the job search. https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-bristol-95a15910/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergradua...
Mar 04, 2024•53 min•Ep. 210
