I recently had the opportunity to visit the KEEN Headquarters retail store and was really inspired by their brand vision and overall approach to marketing. It got me thinking about how I could explore that identity through a new experiential concept, so I opened up Blender and started playing around with some ideas. I spent time researching their branding, products, and existing marketing to come up with something that felt authentic to KEEN and could realistically be used at different marketing events.
The idea was to give people a chance to actually test hiking shoes rather than just look at them on a shelf. That led to Groundworks, a shoe-shaped testing area with three different surfaces: asphalt, forest floor, and river rock. I also incorporated a 3D scan of one of KEEN's existing hiking shoe models and used it as a starting point to experiment with my own take on a new collection of textile designs. The yellow arch serves as a safety handrail while customers walk across the different surfaces, while the nearby bench and reclaimed materials help create more of a trailhead feel than a traditional retail booth. I also experimented with different lighting setups and cast shadows to add depth and visual interest to the space, keeping it from feeling too clean or clinical. Overall, I wanted the experience to feel approachable, interactive, and true to the KEEN brand.
An independent concept exploration — not an official collaboration or commission. All KEEN branding and trademarks belong to KEEN.
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