Kris Brauer
Industrial Design
Abstract
Winter recreationists, especially backcountry skiers and splitboarders, need to rescue and provide care for companions if they are caught in an avalanche, a universal skill taught in avalanche education. However, minimal research has been done on users ability to recall and execute this training, unprompted, and no research has examined if the design of equipment (backpack, shovel, probe for example) can improve user’s recall and performance. To examine this problem, a survey was used to assemble demographic profiles of backcountry recreationists. Complete, in-situ simulations of single-rescuer companion rescues were performed using a sample population selected using the created demographic profiles. Finally, two modifications to users backpacks, utilizing known nudge strategies, were tested in abbreviated simulations of single-rescuer companion rescues. This research reveals that a large majority of backcountry skiers and splitboarders have received adequate rescue training and are able to perform a rescue from memory. However, digging strategy and subsequent medical care were found to be weak spots in the rescue process, diminishing survival chances for buried victims. Rescuers appear to be in a “flow state” as described by Csíkszentmihályi, and are not influenced by tested nudge strategies. However, research revealed some effective design strategies which were distilled and implemented in the design of a backpack for skiers and splitboarders.
A the backside of a person wearing a blue coat and a large orange backpack.
Kris Brauer, Bernard 32 Backpack, 2024, Fabric. Image courtesy of the artist.
A shot of the backside of a person wearing a blue coat and large orange backpack.
Kris Brauer, Bernard 32 Backpack, 2024, Fabric. Image courtesy of the artist.
The interior of the backpack.
Kris Brauer, Bernard 32 Backpack, 2024, Fabric. Image courtesy of the artist.
A scene in the snow. There is a mannequin resting inside fabric. On the left a hand is reaching for a bag.
Kris Brauer, Still from user research video, 2024, GoPro footage. Image courtesy of the artist.
A orange backpack displayed in front of a white wall.
Kris Brauer, Intuitive Safety, 2024. Design installation. Photo: Rosaline Dou.
Committee
Jason Germany, Chair
Sang-gyeun Ahn
Education
MDes: Industrial Design,
University of Washington, 2024

BS Des, Industrial Design,
University of Cincinnati, 2015
Contact
LinkedinEmail
Awards + Accomplishments
2022, Top Scholar Design Graduate Recruit Award, University of Washington
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