Smith Optics Nubby Goggles

smith optics nubby snowboarding goggles


Last year, I designed a collection of goggles for Smith Optics, a premium brand of goggles, sunglasses and helmets. Each of the styles feature my collage-based art and male, female and unisex models will be available for purchase in 2011.

smith optics nubby snowboarding goggles

Back in 2008, I had a solo art show at Portland agency Nemo HQ. Later, we did a big Smith trending presentation and one of the art directors pitched ‘Nubby Art’ as a concept. Amazingly enough, they liked the idea and moved forward. I had already sold the artwork that was later sublimated onto the straps but I always do high resolution scans of every piece I produce.

smith optics nubby snowboarding goggles

The goggle straps feature Smith branding set in Avant Garde which is quite fitting since this concept was presented under the avant garde trending theme.


smith optics nubby snowboarding goggles


Besides the goggles, a helmet was also produced in both black and white. The helmet graphics tend to be more minimal so that they can be worn as a set with the corresponding goggles.

smith optics nubby snowboarding goggles


You can see the pairing of my goggles and helmet in one of the catalog spreads.

smith optics nubby snowboarding goggles

smith optics nubby snowboarding goggles


The Smith team did a great job of finalizing all the details and keeping the collages true to their original form. I was surprised at how clean the sublimated imagery on the straps came out.

smith optics nubby snowboarding goggles


I could have never imagined that artwork I produced would eventually pop up on a line of snowboard goggles. For the record, I’ve never snowboarded but now I really don’t have an excuse! Thanks to both Smith and Nemo for making this collaboration possible.

17 Responses to Smith Optics Nubby Goggles

  1. Nubby says:

    Ian Houghton: Rad! I would love to see some folks wearing them and get some photos sent in!

    Star: If I get some extra samples, I can probably send you a pair. There are four models and I won’t have a need for all of them… :)

  2. these are beautiful, i can’t wait to buy a pair. how can we get a nubby ladies’ board in the works for next season? we need more classy, awesome, fashion forward snow equipment [especially boards]. the snowboard population’s forerunners are now in their 40s, and want to look good without appearing to be pandering to a generation 20 years younger.

    i’m an avid snowboarder, and i’ve always been disappointed that the fashion is aimed at the adolescent boy burner/shredder demographic [and the 14-17 year-old ladies who love them]. i’d be curious to hear more about how this collaboration came about, how did you decide to work with a snow equipment company?

  3. Danielle says:

    These are HOT! BTW, loving the site redesign too. I don’t know if I ever told you that you were the one who inspired me to try and take my blog to the next level back in 2009. Thanks for raising the bar =)

  4. wEn says:

    Great designs, particularly the helmet! I’m a snowboarding enthusiast and usually have a hard time finding a helmet that I like (doesn’t make you look like a total blockhead). Yours is definitely functional yet chic.

  5. Pingback: Nubbytwiglet.com » Blog Archive » The Week in Pictures: 7.2.10

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Please note: Any comments deemed inappropriate (spam, off-topic, rude language) will be removed.