Katrine Jopperud: Technical Design Manager, Helly Hansen

Based out of Oslo, Norway, Katrine Jopperud is the Technical Design Manager for Helly Hansen specializing in the Ski and Watersport categories. She has a Masters in Industrial Design and has worked for Helly Hansen for 11 years. She also spent a few years at Helly Hansen’s Seattle office and has been involved in all categories. Here we get her thoughts on the designer’s life.

Olivia Palermo. Photo credit to Diego Zuko for Harper’s Bazaar

What Style Icon Do You Look Up To? 

Olivia Palermo has great style.

What’s Your Pick For The 2016 Pantone Color Of The Year? 

Pantone19-3927 Graphite; which is a dark blue with a hint of grey/purple. It works great with a lot of colors.

What Inspires your designs beyond the outdoor industry?

I find furniture and car design very inspiring. Traveling and seeing new places, interiors, art and fashion are crucial to getting inspired and thinking of new ways of doing things. Of course, the user experience and testing products gives me ideas, but when it comes to new aesthetics, color and print inspiration, it can come from anywhere.

If you could design anything you wanted, what would it be?

I would love to design and create my own house by the water. I am fascinated by architecture, and it would be cool to make something so big and different from what I am used to.

“Designing outdoor products was not on my radar…once I started, I found it fascinating.”

What set your course toward designing outdoor apparel?

Like a lot of things in life, it was a coincidence. I did a small project for a Norwegian sports brand after my studies and that lead me into the industry. Designing outdoor products was not on my radar when I studied but once I started, I found it fascinating, and I am really happy I ended up here.

Designing at Helly Hansen, what’s one thing you try not to forget?

Where we come from and who we are.  We have a strong heritage and that means our design has to be rooted in that and be purposeful. I also focus on having fun and making each day and each product meaningful.