Triton

Triton
Water Polo
Cap
Water polo cap
aesthetic and functional
redesign.
Sponsored by:
What is
missing?
Innovation
Nike spent 4 years researching a new process and
material for creating this shoe. It weighs 160g or
5.6oz.
The water polo cap has remained relatively
unchanged since adding the ear guards in the
1980’s.
Endearment
Nike turned running into an interactive activity.
They drew people in through branding and an
advertised attitude.
Once every four years, people in the US care
about water polo. There is no professional
water polo league in the US.
Player
Equipment
Training
Gear
Ball
Suit
Primary component of water
polo. Same significance as a
basketball to a basketball game.
Weight Ball
Part of the athlete’s uniform.
Players prefer the brief cut to
reduce grabbing of the suit during
play.
Mikasa Men’s Official FINA Water
Polo Game Ball
List Price: $49.99
Turbo H2o Zoom Water
Polo Suit
List Price: $39.00
Used by female water polo
athletes. Protects hair from being
pulled and damaged.
The other aspect of the athlete’s
uniform. Displays team color and
player number for identification
by teammates and referees.
Speedo Silicone Swim Cap
List Price: $9.99
Trainer Ball
Weighted ball that helps a player
build strength while passing and
treading water.
Weighted ball used for strengthening
arm out of water as well as physical
therapy.
Mikasa Heavyweight Men’s Water
Polo Training Ball
List Price: $34.99
Mikasa A Trainer 1 Kilo
List Price: $34.99
Weighted belt that builds leg
strength while training.
When filled with water, used
as a descending weight while
treading water.
KAP7 Water Polo Weight Belt
5-10 lbs.
List Price: $32.95
Water Jug 5 gal.
List Price: $16.99
Water Gear Water Polo Cap
List Price: $24.99
Swim Cap
Cap
Notes: Caps relatively unappealing, suit has little open space for
graphics, ball has improved in recent years.
Weight Belt
Water Jug
Notes: Weight balls not updated patterns, belt looks very outdated,
water jug is not a specified training tool.
Sport
Comparison
Players
347
350
300
250
Youth-High School
Ages 6-18
Club teams start as early as 2nd
grade
Largest group of water polo
players
Most popular in California, Texas,
Chicago, and the East Coast
College/Club Athlete
Ages 18+
Few scholarships, overwhelming
majority pay full tuition
Only 22 Division 1 schools, 12 of
which are in California
200
Professional Athlete
Ages 22-30’s
Average salary of $30,000
150
124
Majority of teams are located
in eastern European countries
(Croatia, Hungary, etc.)
100
All American Pro’s are college
graduates.
50
22
Water Polo
Football (BCS)
Division 1 Collegiate Programs
Basketball
Tony
Azevedo
Voices from
the sport
Troy Williams
Tom Nickels
Division II Water Polo Athlete
University of La Verne
La Verne, CA
Water Polo Coach
Oak Park & River Forest HS
Oak Park, IL
Captain, USA Men’s National
Water Polo Team
Olympic Medalist
What do you like about the
equipment?
What is frustrating about
the equipment?
“The simpler, the
better.”
“Caps get destroyed
often.”
What brand do you most associate with water polo?
“...honestly there is no real one brand
that stands out alone.”
What are your thoughts on the current equipment?
Is there anything I should be
wary of in my design?
What do you find frustrating
when officiating?
“Look out for rules on
cap design.”
“These issues slow
down the flow of the
game.”
Mike Nickels
J.R. Vanderwall
Former Club Captain
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
Collegiate Water Polo Referee
Midwest Region
“Caps are also a problem—the earguards and general
design could really use a redesign.”
At the London Games, new LED lights were used to project the 2 and 5 meter marks across the water. What can new
innovations like this do for the sport?
“Changes like that make the sport easier to view on TV and that’s exactly what
we need.”
Issues
Player identification
difficult for officials
Direction
Outdated aesthetic
Create a more aggressive aesthetic
Purpose
Make player identification easier
Display team colors
Display player number
Protect eardrums from puncture
Protect ears
Make cap harder to grab
Make strings easier to tie
Nylon
Polypropylene
Ear guards can
actually harm
exterior of ear
and eardrum
Strings come
untied during
rough play
Strings easily pulled on
Concept
Development
Initial ideation inspired by
other headgear
Incorporated multiple
materials and functions
Ear guards allowed for
sculptural exploration
Refined concepts based
on function
Final
Development
Final 2D functional and
aesthetic refinements
Refinement through
physical mockups
Triton
Water Polo
Cap
Materials
Silicone (Shore: 50A)
TURBO Fabric (55% PBT, 45% Polyester)
TURBO Fabric
Polyurethane (Shore: 80D)
Polyurethane (Shore: 55D)
Polyurethane (Shore: 55D)
Aluminum Ring
TURBO Fabric
provides tear and
chlorine-resistance. Two
very important qualities in
the Triton water polo cap.
TURBO Fabric
Silicone (Shore: 50A)
Details
During play, cap strings often
come untied and the game is
suspended.
Triton’s strap mechanism
allows for user-only removal.
Strap adjuster slides to
increase/descrease size.
Comparison
Aggressive aesthetic
gives athletic look
Angled crown
Flowing ear guards
Directional pattern
Contemporary styling
Player identification is easy
with large typeface and
additional number
Assymmetrical earguards
offer maximum comfort
Thicker strap makes
grabbing more difficult
Strap function allows for
user-only removal
Current Design
Triton