The Boulder Outdoor Specialty Group (BOSG) will be looking to hire two
new designers and has also brought all research and development
in-house. With two new designers on staff, BOSG said all six
Boulder-based brands will benefit from a unified design perspective and
the creative energies of a product development team able to share ideas
and communicate more effectively throughout the design process.
An
in-house research and development department will allow the product
design team to create, test, and alter samples quickly and efficiently,
producing highly functional, innovative gear in a fraction of the time.
“We're
very excited for the opportunity to work with a dedicated design team,
developing new and innovative products across all six brands here in
Boulder,” said Kenny Ballard, president of the BOSG. “Our brands have a
strong heritage rooted in innovation and we're certain that bringing
more of the product creation process in-house will allow us to turn out
innovative, more functional outdoor gear faster and more effectively.”
The
Boulder Outdoor Specialty Group is currently in the process of hiring
two industrial designers who will be charged with creating and refining
a wide variety of outdoor gear including apparel, tents, sleeping bags,
backpacks, and hydration systems. This will bring the internal design
team to a total of three designers, led by Design Manager Jason
Belaire. BOSG will continue to utilize a team of talented outside
designers to augment the efforts of their in-house design staff.
A
new product manager will also come on board to manage BOSG's equipment
lines. Gail Ross, current backpack and KIDS product manager, will move
over to Sierra Designs where she will take the reigns as product
manager for apparel. Gail will leverage her 20+ years of apparel
product development experience to ensure that the Sierra Designs
apparel represents best in class innovation, quality and value.
A
team of sponsored athletes currently working with Sierra Designs will
assist with the R&D aspect of product development, testing gear and
providing feedback from such far-flung and extreme environments as
Mount Everest, the Alps, and the North Pole.
The BOSG will
dedicate space in their Boulder offices to the purpose of sample
creation and pattern development. A team of talented gear and apparel
fabricators will be on hand to create samples and assist with the
research and development process.
The Boulder Group's brand family includes Kelty, Kelty KIDS, Sierra Designs, Slumberjack, Wenger, and Ultimate Direction.
