Overview
AKONA Adventure Gear is a scuba and watersports brand known for creating practical, performance-driven equipment at accessible price points.
I initiated, pitched, and led the development of the AKONA Tropic Wetsuit — a bold, crossover design created to bridge the surfing and tropical scuba diving markets. The goal was to introduce a visually striking wetsuit that expanded AKONA’s traditionally dive-focused aesthetic while maintaining competitive pricing and strong performance standards.
Identifying the Opportunity
Through market research and competitive analysis, I identified:
- A saturated wetsuit market dominated by black neoprene
- A growing crossover audience between diving, surfing, and watersports
- A gap in AKONA’s lineup for a visually expressive warm-water suit
- A saturated wetsuit market dominated by black neoprene
- A growing crossover audience between diving, surfing, and watersports
- A gap in AKONA’s lineup for a visually expressive warm-water suit
I developed and pitched a concept outlining market positioning, visual direction, material strategy, and pricing feasibility. The Tropic Wetsuit was approved as a strategic expansion product.
My Role
Product & Surface Designer
Product & Surface Designer
Responsible for:
- Research and concept development
- Surface design and colour direction
- Neoprene sourcing and material selection
- Cut-and-sew line development
- Manufacturer coordination and sample revisions
- Budget and MOQ alignment
- Launch campaign direction (photography, hangtags, email, social, web)
- Research and concept development
- Surface design and colour direction
- Neoprene sourcing and material selection
- Cut-and-sew line development
- Manufacturer coordination and sample revisions
- Budget and MOQ alignment
- Launch campaign direction (photography, hangtags, email, social, web)
Performance Strategy
The suit needed to serve both surfers and tropical scuba divers.
I selected neoprene that balanced stretch, thermal retention, and buoyancy. The front zipper was extended for easier donning and doffing, and seams were specified as glued and blind-stitched for comfort and durability.
Every decision supported crossover functionality without increasing cost beyond competitor benchmarks.
Visual Direction
The Tropic line introduced bold colour-blocked panels paired with sublimated patterns to add depth and personality.
The men’s suit featured a tone-on-tone wave pattern.
The women’s suit featured a tropical palm pattern.
The women’s suit featured a tropical palm pattern.
Both shared a cohesive palette and complementary seam accents to maintain visual unity across the line.
Patterns and paneling were developed with budget, MOQs, and target demographic appeal in mind — balancing expressive design with manufacturing feasibility.
Manufacturing & Cost Alignment
I refined materials, finalized panel layouts, and worked directly with the manufacturer to meet performance standards and budget targets.
Strong dealer response at launch allowed us to exceed MOQs while maintaining healthy margins for both AKONA and retail partners.
Launch & Impact
I directed the product rollout including photography, dealer materials, digital assets, and campaign execution.
The Tropic email campaign increased dealer website visits by 329% above normal traffic.
The wetsuits were featured in the March and May 2022 editions of SCUBA Diving Magazine and remain active in AKONA’s product line beyond their projected lifecycle.
Reflection
The Tropic Wetsuit represents a full-spectrum product development process — from market research and pitch to manufacturing coordination and campaign execution.
By aligning bold visual identity with material performance and cost strategy, I helped AKONA expand into a crossover category while maintaining profitability and brand evolution.
