At the latest KORE Speaker Series, master gear designer Pete Hill discussed the why’s and the how’s of excellent design.
The latest KORE Outdoor Speaker Series was a MasterClass in design, compliments of industry veteran Pete Hill. Founder of Pete Hill Limited, a design and development studio based in Squamish, BC, Pete has spent almost three decades creating performance outdoor products for brands like Arc’teryx, Patagonia, and BioLite. In the hour-long webinar, Pete pulled back the curtain on his creative process, offering a detailed look at what it means to design intentionally, from solving real-world problems to delivering category-defining gear.
This article breaks down the presentation into four core takeaways for gear makers looking to level-up their design approach.
1. Designing for Function: Solving Real Problems, Not Hypotheticals
Pete Hill opened his talk with a fundamental truth: good design begins with a real problem. “Design is about intent,” he said. “If you’re not solving a real-world issue, you’re just making noise.” He urged makers to get intimately familiar with the needs of their users, whether that’s backcountry skiers, climbers, or eco-conscious weekend warriors.
One standout example came from his time at BioLite, where he helped develop cooking and lighting systems for off-grid use in both developed and developing regions. These weren’t just cool gadgets, they were life-improving tools. “The stakes were higher,” Pete said. “We weren’t just trying to shave grams, we were trying to extend the day for people who didn’t have light.”
He encouraged Kootenay-based makers to get outside, test products in a variety of ways, talk to users and then design from a place of experience and empathy.
2. The Iteration Mindset: Prototype, Test, Break, Repeat
Next, Pete dove into the iterative nature of his process. He’s a believer in “build early, break often.” For him, design isn’t a linear path, it’s a cycle of trial and error. He encouraged designers to get comfortable with failure and to use prototyping not just to validate ideas, but to explore them.
He shared stories of hand-cutting foam, stitching crude pack straps, and testing in the rain — all to understand the tactile and functional qualities of a piece of gear long before it hits the production line. Pete’s philosophy is that great design doesn’t happen in CAD software alone. It happens when your ideas get wet, dirty, and pushed to their limits in the field.
“Prototyping isn’t just about refining a solution, it’s about discovering the real question,” he explained.
3. Collaboration Over Ego: Working Across Disciplines
Throughout his career, Pete has collaborated with engineers, marketers, developers, and users. One of his key points was that design must serve the bigger picture — and that means checking your ego at the door. “Good design is not about being the smartest person in the room,” he said. “It’s about asking better questions and listening to the answers.”
He described successful design teams as “cross-functional ecosystems” where trust and communication matter more than job titles. In fact, Pete often brings manufacturers and vendors into the early stages of design to ensure the final product is as manufacturable as it is beautiful.
This collaborative spirit, he noted, is especially crucial for small companies — like many in the Kootenay region — where lean teams need to wear multiple hats and make every decision count.
4. Designing for Longevity: Sustainability Beyond Buzzwords
The final portion of Pete’s presentation addressed a topic close to his heart: sustainability. “Sustainability starts with durability,” he said. “Make products that last, that repair, that people want to keep.”
Pete challenged designers to think in full lifecycles: Where do the materials come from? How easily can parts be replaced? What happens to the product after five or ten years of use? He highlighted that longevity is not just an environmental win, it’s also a business strategy. Brands that build trust through quality can develop long-term customer loyalty.
He wrapped up by encouraging attendees to embrace constraints as creative fuel. “Sustainable design isn’t about doing less,” he said. “It’s about doing better — with purpose, with intention, and with humility.”
Pete Hill’s masterclass wasn’t just a how-to guide — it was a call to action. He challenged every maker in the KORE community to go deeper, ask better questions, and design with greater intent. Whether it’s the way you test a prototype, collaborate with a machinist, or choose your zipper, each decision carries weight. And for those building gear in the Kootenays, Pete’s message was clear: Design isn’t just what you make — it’s how and why you make it.
Pete Hill’s presentation offered a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the philosophy and practices behind exceptional product design. By grounding his advice in real-world experience, he equipped the KORE community with tools to create gear that matters — for people, for place, and for the long haul.