Spark G23
We are a RESPONSIVE FOUNDRY
navigating through a VOLATILE SPIRIT
for you, MAD LEGENDS.
This 6-word story inspired the creation and development of Spark G23 crampon using Claw™️ and Tempered™️ technologies to enhance touch on Denali.
Project
Year
Industrial Design / Storytelling / Branding / Team
Duration
Skills
**All externally sourced images are used for instructional purposes only, and all intellectual property rights remain with their original owners.
**Images on this page are for demonstration purposes only in a non-profit educational context. They do not represent or endorse actual products or services of Grivel.
Formal Research / Concept Development /
Ideation and Form Development / Prototyping /
Rendering / Visualization / Storytelling
2025
14 Weeks
Spark G23 Crampon
A set of metal spikes attached underfoot to provide grip on steep, icy, or snowy terrain.
BRAND
ENVIRONMENT
ATHLETE
TOPIC
GRIVEL
DENALI
GABARROU
TOUCH
GRIVEL, DENALI, AND PATRICK GABARROU
The Story
Brand
Grivel
In 1818, Grivel started as a blacksmith,
forging tools for farmers. Now, their craft
has evolved to become the foundation of
over 200 years of alpine history.
[ It’s a dark winter night in Mont Blanc, and a hunter steps into a blacksmith’s
shop with a peculiar request: he needs a lighter, longer pick that could cut into ice.
Henry Grivel took the challenge and forged the first dedicated ice axe. ]
GRIVEL: A RESPONSIVE FOUNDRY
This responsive foundry creates for tough conditions,
which is why Denali is the perfect site to test the limits.
Environment
DENALI'S CASSIN
At "the tall one" of Alaska, you'll experience extreme winds, and a veil of clouds might blind your sight, but don't fear, as the soul can become calm in an instant.
[ Ahead of you lies a vertical slope, and the ground and ceiling are never-ending.
You'll navigate through mixed terrain and different types of ice,
especially during our target season of spring. ]
DENALI: A VOLATILE SPIRIT
Tackling this volatile spirit requires an experienced climber.
Good thing Patrick Gabarrou has what it takes to take it on.
Athlete
PATRICK GABARROU
Patrick Gabarrou, a French alpinist, ski mountaineer, and guide, has made a whopping 300+ first ascents and is continuing at 78.
[ “I prefer a bit more of an instant buzz...
I suppose I could show you, couldn’t I really.
Cheers young man. Goodbye!” -Patrick Gabarrou ]
GABARROU: A MAD LEGEND
He is not your typical climber. No.
He is Mad. He is a Legend.
GRIVEL
DENALI
ATHLETE
We are a
RESPONSIVE FOUNDRY
navigating through a
VOLATILE SPIRIT
for you,
MAD LEGENDS.
WHAT IF...
HARMONY BURST FROM CHAOS?
HOW COULD...
COMPLETION BREATHE REACTIVITY?
Through this doorway, we find
the meaning of our journey forward...
TOUCH!
In an environment such as Denali, the sense of feeling dissipates. Many barriers strip the senses: physical layers with garments, the cold that numbs, mental barriers, and the veil of wind and snow.
These technologies
will be our light or our
to see through
the dark!
SPARK
CLAW™
TEMPERED™
TECHNOLOGY
CLAW™
INSPIRED BY A LAWN MOWER BLADE
Claw is indefatigable. Every step you take, the better the underfoot sensation becomes. How is this possible?
Blades naturally dull over time...?
Self-sharpening is pursued with the power of a layer of wear-resistant steel.
As the point experiences normal wear, the material moves backwards towards
this resistant layer and becomes sharper. Claw is a feeling that is never dull.
TECHNOLOGY
TEMPERED™
INSPIRED BY THE KATANA
Tempered is the marriage of clay and steel, originating from the katana. Enlivening it with flame and water, this process creates a dual-quality material.
This process produces a hard edge and a softer spine, providing a balance
of sharpness and fracture resistance. Tempered. Perfect contact for
perfect movement. Visualized with Demascus Steel Patterning
What iF cramponS were the
vessel for these technologies?
The contact underfoot between
the athlete and the terrain
requires the most precise and sharp touch.
Let's explore some madness!
CRAMPON
Research
CRAMPON REFERENCE PRINT
Let's 3D print an existing crampon model as a reference for research.
CRAMPON
Mock-up and Testing
CRAMPON MOCK UP
To understand how to enhance touch, it became my mission to
understand what "enhance" could mean. Let's make some crampons by heating acrylic and see what touch might feel like under my foot in a comparable environment.
PUTTING THE MOCKUP
TO THE TEST
Replicating the Cassin Ridge environment meant a search
for a vertical slope, weighted baggage, and mixed terrain.
Let's Climb.
Ascending
During the climb, I used my two front prongs, also called front-pointing. These prongs need to be more horizontal so they penetrate easily when they contact the surface. They need to offer resilience, as I tended to rest on them while they acted as an anchor. My calf muscles were working as I prepared to take the next step.
Descending
Here, I am demonstrating the plunge step, where you descend by driving your heel straight down into the snow in order to move quickly and efficiently. For these surfaces, you would probably use the Rappelling technique, which is much safer. It is also the primary technique for descending. For very vertical routes, you could also use front pointing.
CRAMPON
Form Exploration
THE VISUAL AND VERBAL STORY AND ITS INFLUENCE.
A Responsive Foundry, Volatile Spirit, and Mad Legend.
How might this story manifest into a crampon?
How are the technologies brought to life?
CRAMPON
Form Refinement
CRAMPON
SPARK G23
Designed not just for Cassin Ridge, but for the moments on it when gear matters most.
CLAW ™
Clay tempering is visualized with damascus patterning. The steel takes on multiple characteristics within a single material, creating further resilience. The spine retains toughness, while the side points have the softness it needs.
TEMPERED ™
Every contact with the surface actually sharpens the steel. Impact wears down the softer outer layer, while the harder core advances forward. The points stay aggressive and precise when the terrain demands absolute accuracy.
Legend's Mark
Even though this trek is temporary, you will leave an impression on the mountain.
So every step leaves a mark of a legend.
Step and Go
With the Spark G23 crampon, transitions are instinctive. A step-and-go interface means no need for straps, strings, or inconveniences.
Step. Toe bail. Heel bail. Done.
What used to break the rhythm now becomes a seamless continuation of movement.
CRAMPON
Visualization
CRAMPON
The Physical Prototype
Prototype
Process
Printing & Sanding
Painting
Details
By the time you reach the summit,
you, mad legends,
have lived out your madness in volatility,
but you noticed...
THE TRANSITIONS WERE
FASTER
THE POINTS BECAME
SHARPER
THE STEEL
RESPONDED
So... It's an easier way to trek?
Absolutely Not.
It's crazier adventure
and more opportunity for
dream to manifest.
We are a responsive foundry.
Denali is a volatile spirit.
Our athletes are mad legends.
SPARK leads the way.