Summer Internship Project | 1 Month
DESIGN BRIEF
Snowboard bindings are not just performance gear—they're an extension of a rider’s style and identity. With the Guild and Brass bindings, Rome Snowboards sought a highback design that seamlessly blends technical performance with a bold aesthetic for the women’s binding line.
This highback features a custom pattern that ties into the overall design language of the footbed and toe strap, creating a cohesive, visually striking setup. Balancing form and function, the design enhances the rider’s experience by offering both support and a distinct, stylish edge on the mountain.
BINDING ANATOMY
A highback is the vertical support on the back of a snowboard binding that gives support and control by transferring energy from your legs to the board. It plays a key role in heel-side turns, helping with response and stability. Highbacks come in different materials, flex levels, and adjustability options to match different riding styles.
MOOD BOARD
The purpose of this mood board was to establish a strong visual and conceptual foundation for the pattern design of the women’s highback. I was deeply inspired by patterns in nature and concrete structures because of their organic feel and sense of visual balance. Nature creates intricate, flowing designs—like the bold veins of a leaf or the delicate complexity of a spider web—that feel both effortless and intentional. In contrast, concrete structures bring a sense of stability and geometry, with repeating patterns and strong lines that create a different kind of harmony. Blending these two influences allowed me to create a highback pattern that flows effortlessly while complementing the patterns, curves, and textures of the rest of the binding.
CONCEPT IDEATION
During the concept ideation phase, I explored a variety of highback designs through quick thumbnail sketches, experimenting with different shapes, forms, and patterns. This process allowed me to rapidly generate ideas, refine visual elements, and find a balance between aesthetics and functionality before moving into more detailed development. I also explored various cut-out shapes and their impact on the flex and overall performance of the binding. This experimentation allowed me to understand how different forms and patterns would influence both the aesthetics and the functionality, ensuring the final design was not only visually striking but also responsive and supportive on the snow.
3D MODELLING
The design used the natural curves and geometry of the highback as a guide, designing the pattern to flow organically with the form rather than sitting on top of it. Intersecting lines cut deep in the centre of the highback, gradually flowing into lighter lines as they approach the edge of the form. I 3D modeled the binding using surface and solid modeling techniques in CAD, starting with the overall highback form and then refining the inner geometry to incorporate the pattern seamlessly into the design.
PROTOTYPING
For prototyping, we used an SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) printer to produce a high-resolution nylon version of the highback, allowing us to replicate the final design with accuracy and durability. This process enabled us to test the part in a realistic, functional context by mounting it directly onto a snowboard binding setup. The SLS print provided the strength and flexibility needed to evaluate fit, flex, and performance under real riding conditions, helping us gather valuable feedback and make design refinements before moving into production tooling.
FINAL DESIGN
Brass
Guild
The final highback design successfully merges performance and aesthetics, offering a supportive structure with a visually cohesive pattern that ties into the overall binding system. By integrating the pattern directly into the inner surface geometry, the design feels intentional and unified with the rest of the binding features. The result is a highback that not only performs well on the mountain but also elevates the visual identity of the Guild and Brass bindings, aligning with Rome’s commitment to both innovation and style.