Adam,

 

Great idea (and great mural too!) and one that has already been acted on by a couple companies that you might look at for inspiration:

 

http://www.nutcasehelmets.com/Pages/index.aspx

 

http://www.yakkay.com/

 

Nutcase is available in the USA; Yakkay isn’t from what they told me a month or 2 ago.  Anyway, their design concepts are very interesting and might just be the ticket to get the younger gen wearing helmets.

 

Tim

 

********************
Tim Potter
Coordinator
MSU Bikes Service Center
B10 Bessey Hall/ Michigan St. University
Along the N. River Trail, 300 ft. west of Farm Ln. Bridge
E. Lansing, MI 48824-1033

Ph: 517/432-3400
Fax: 517/432-2743
Email:
bikes@msu.edu
Web: www.bikes.msu.edu
Home Dept:
www.transportation.pp.msu.edu


"Most of American life is driving somewhere and then driving back wondering why the hell you went."
>From Rabbit at Rest by John Updike
************************************


From: thethinktank-bounces@bikecollectives.org [mailto:thethinktank-bounces@bikecollectives.org] On Behalf Of adam schwartz
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2008 11:09 AM
To: The Think Tank
Subject: [TheThinkTank] designer bike helmets

 

One of our ongoing challenges at the Renaissance Youth Bike Shop is getting kids to wear helmets.  All participants in our programs are required to wear helmets, but influencing the youth culture is difficult, where helmets are considered even by most adults in our community, non-essential and un-cool. Our idea is to work with a local graffiti artist to create our own line of designer helmets.  We would sell these helmets as a fundraiser, both in our shop and at our local bike shop.  Has anyone any experience with customizing helmets or bikes?  I am thinking the BMX style helmets would work best as a surface area to paint.  Pictures to come.

 

Also, see a pic of our recent mural installed at the shop, painted by students and their art teacher at nearby middle school.

--
Adam Schwartz
Program Coordinator, The Renaissance Youth Bike Shop
Center For Educational Partnership
6200 Sheridan Street, Riverdale, MD
adamgs@umd.edu
(301) 405-3213