2019-11-01 Outside

As one of the most
technically precise
gear makers on the
planet, Arc’teryx has
the overarching goal of
designing simple solutions
to complex problems. So
it made sense that when
they were looking for a
theme for their new short
film series The Way of the
Problem Solver, design
would be at the forefront.

THE FILM: “KAI LIN:
OUT ON A LIMB”

PROBLEM: A high-
performance prosthetic
didn’t exist.
SOLUTION: When
industrial designer Kai Lin
saw a video of mountain
goats scaling a nearly
vertical cliff, he was
inspired to design a new
type of prosthetic lower
leg. But he needed a
volunteer to help develop
his prototypes. Colorado
climber Craig DeMartino
was the perfect candidate.
Although his right leg
is amputated below the
knee, it hasn’t stopped

BRANDED CONTENT

him from doing things

like climbing the Nose

of El Cap in a day with a

standard prosthetic. A

more nimble design would

open up all sorts of new

routes to him. The duo

have since designed and

tested a working model

that is part goat hoof (the

toe is noticeably pointed)

and part human heel (a

spring takes the place of

the Achilles tendon and

allows for elastic energy

to help power DeMartino’s

moves). This actuation

happens naturally. “When

force is applied,” says

Lin, “the heel pivots and

the spring brings the foot

back to its position. He

doesn’t have to think.”

THE FILM: “NAT

PANEK: WILD

SPACE”

PROBLEM: We’re littering

outer space.

SOLUTION: Of the

roughly 5,000 satellites

in orbit today, only 2,

are operational. The

decommissioned units,

which are often left to

aimlessly orbit Earth,

are collisions waiting to

happen. Enter Natalie

“Nat” Panek, a lifelong

outdoorsperson with a

passion for long-distance

backpacking. She’s also a

systems engineer for an

aerospace firm and at one

time was on track to be an

astronaut (administrators

feared that a streak of

white in her hair was

a potential indicator

of undetected health

issues). Undeterred from

her dreams of working

in the space industry,

today Panek is innovating

in the field of “on-orbit

satellite repair,” helping

to produce machines

that can recommission

defunct satellites. “Like

plastic pollution in our

oceans, dead satellites

orbiting Earth are largely

an unseen problem,” says

Panek. “‘Leave no trace’

applies to space too.”

THE

SOLVERS

Meet the

innovators

designing

radical

solutions to

complex real-

world issues

X THE WAY OF THE

PROBLEM SOLVER

Both “Out on a Limb”

and “Wild Space” can

be viewed at arcteryx.

com. The third film

in the series, “Home

for All: Ripples in All

Directions,” a look

at the architects

who designed

tiny community

centers in the wake

of Japan’s historic

2011 earthquake

and tsunami, is also

available now. The

final film in the series,

“UNICEF: Closing

the Gap,” due out

November 4, follows

Arc’teryx designers

as they collaborate

with UNICEF to

produce insulated

and smoke-free gers

(yurts) for the rural

people of Mongolia.

arcteryx.com/explore/

problem-solvers

Arc’teryx is a

group of designers,

perfectionists,

makers, and

outdoor-lovers. The

Way of the Problem

Solver stories

celebrate our belief

that now is the time

to think beyond the

product and make

problem-solving

contagious. Design

is our way forward.

Make it yours.

http://www.arcteryx.com.

New York-Based

Industrial Designer

Kai Lin

Rocket Scientist

Nat Panek