Nixon
For this project, I was mentored by Cinco Design, a studio located in Portland that specializes in brand strategy. My goal was to expand Nixon's current product line while maintaining the integrity of the brand. I spent weeks researching the Nixon brand and understanding their tribes, values, and aesthetics before beginning work on a Nixon pocket knife.
The pocket knife has long been a staple of EDC. From fixed-blade tactical knives to multi-tools, knife design has covered an almost endless array of functions and features. Skateboarders, however, are largely ignored when it comes to knife design. Outside of “normal” knife use, skateboarders need a variety of screwdrivers, wrenches, files, and blades to work on their boards. I would like to focus on one particular interaction: installing new grip tape on a board. The skateboarder first lays down the new grip tape on the deck and punches through the holes for the truck bolts. Next, the grip tape is scored with a file or scraper along the edge of the deck. Finally, the skateboarder uses a razor blade to cut away the excess tape. I sought to streamline this process by including all of the requisite tools in a single pocket knife.
The Nixon Stockman is the rebirth of a classic pocket knife pattern. A traditional stockman slipjoint knife features a serpentine profile and a large clip point blade with secondary sheepfoot (utility) and spey (specific function) blades. Nixon’s design features a more modern straight profile and a screwdriver/file/wrench/bottle opener combo tool in place of the spey blade to accommodate a skateboarder’s specific needs. The large clip point blade is perfect for everyday use, while the smaller sheepfoot blade acts as a utility blade for less delicate tasks, like cutting excess grip tape off your rad new deck. So whether you’re at work or the skate park, the Stockman is ready for anything. The scales, pins, and springs will feature 4 different materials and finishes to correspond with Nixon’s existing line of EDC: black aluminum, gold stainless steel, wood, and Nixon’s signature PU-Silicone blend. This product is geared towards male skateboarders ages 18-35 who already own a Nixon watch. The knife would be sold in skate shops and cost $60.
