The dawn of human centred design? - Inuit Sun Goggles

Inuit man wearing Snow Goggles made from bone.

Have you ever been prevented from travelling somewhere due to the conditions of the environment?

For the Inuit tribes, this used to be their daily lives - struggling to navigate harsh, icy landscapes due to the immense reflection of the light in the sun.

This unbearable light would cause ‘snow blindness’ , where the harmful UV rays from the sun would burn your retinas so badly you could lose your vision.

Around 2000 years ago, the Inuit people came up with a solution.

The Arctic environment is barren, with little to no resources available for product development. Bones, driftwood, ivory (from tusks) and antlers were commonly used to create the first snow goggles.

Tight slits were carved out for the eyes. This allowed only a small amount of light in, greatly decreasing the amount of harmful UV rays.

These goggles were perfectly tailored to the individual’s facial structure, minimising the chance of external light slipping in. Soot was also applied on the inside to further reduce reflections and glare.

Why was it great design?

We have found evidence of amazing tools and weapons from thousands of years ago, however, to me this is one of the early forms of ‘sense heightening’.

Through skilled craftsmanship, scientific understanding and artistic design, the Inuit people didn’t need to lay victim to their harsh environments any longer. They were able to create a fully human-centred design with limited materials. This product is still used to this day amongst the tribes.

Travis Scott wearing Inuit snow goggles on stage. O2 Arena, London

Cultural Influence.

A number of historical artefacts have been shown to influence fashion over the years, but none quite like these snow goggles.

Their anonymous, dystopian aesthetic appeals to modern pop culture trends. American rapper & songwriter Travis Scott exhibited these goggles whilst performing on stage at the O2 Arena in London.

The fact that such a pragmatic and serviceable product has transcended through thousands of years of evolution to make it’s name in fashion is outstanding.

I wonder how many other slightly less practical products would have had the same influence?

Poster Project

Here is a poster I designed to encapsulate this product.
The red text displayed in the top-right corner is the word used for ‘snow goggles’ in Inuktitut Syllabics, the scripture used by the Inuit people.