A new chapter for skate culture and design, with Carhartt WIP
The Carhartt WIP Skate Jam is far from a standard skate event. It is a travelling concept that brings together brand identity, form exploration and local skate cultures into a series of unique, temporary environments. Carhartt WIP commissioned Nine Yards to develop a concept that not only supports the brand, but reinterprets it in spatial form.
The result is a modular system of skate obstacles, designed to transform with every new location. The tour began in Milan, where the first setup came to life. The next chapters will follow in Copenhagen and Berlin, each shaped by its own influences, nuances and urban character.
From logo to skate landscape
The design process was led by Alex Horton of Nine Yards. Rooted in an in-depth study of the Carhartt WIP identity; from its iconic logo and industrial materials to the balance between functionality and rawness, the project developed a form language that feels both familiar and new.
Alex translated Carhartt’s graphic and tactile world into three-dimensional, skateable objects made of steel and texture. Elements that are not just visual statements, but invitations to movement and interaction. The objects subtly reference architectural archetypes found in the streets; loading docks, hips, ledges, rails, reimagined through the lens of design research and brand experience.
From workshop to world stage, Carhartt WIP Skate Jam Europe
All obstacles were designed and built in Breda, at the Nine Yards workshop. From raw steel construction to refined finishing, each piece was carefully tested and prepared before being shipped to Milan for the first edition of the Carhartt WIP Skate Jam.
At the heart of the concept lies a ‘stackable block system’, a collection of skate obstacles that can be combined in multiple ways. This modular approach allows for a new configuration in every city, each tailored to its local architecture and skate flow. On-site, the elements are placed, adjusted, and fine-tuned to perfectly fit the environment, making the project a living design, one that evolves and adapts as the tour continues.
Alex Horton - Designer
The Skate Jam is a traveling study in form and identity. We transformed Carhartt WIP’s rugged language into architecture in motion; objects with character, rough yet deliberate, each time different in every city. A series of obstacles that can not only be skated, but also experienced and interpreted.
Related projects
Our inspired solutions have shaped many of our designs. From skateparks to brand experiences, our work is recognizable by its quality and the elegant forms within each project.
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