The Oakley Story

A global leader in eyewear innovation and design, Oakley pushes the boundaries of sport performance.  Developing products with world class athletes, solving problems that you didn't even know exist, and keeping design at the forefront of their solutions maintains their position of dominance.

Joel Ness worked with Oakley for over 10 years, creating CAD models and becoming a liaison between Design, CAD, and Engineering.  Proud to have helped Oakley develop well over 50 frames, he sculpted some of their most advanced concepts and designs to date.

[PhysioMorphic Geometry]  A freeform lens blank was created with a curved brow to reduce flex and a nose swell that closely follows facial anatomy.  Developed in conjunction with the Kato frame for the Tokyo Olympics, the "PhysioMorphic Geometry" lens blank now serves as a platform for a whole series of products, including Re:Subzero, Xeus, Encoder, and Flex Scape.

In developing the Kato and Re:Subzero frames, we were able to navigate changes in advanced optics, design, engineering, and project scope to deliver genre-defying products within demanding timelines.

[Switchlock Technology]  Jawbreaker was developed with input from pro cyclist Mark Cavendish, who helped identify 3 key features: (1) a vertically extended field of view for head-down cycling, (2) adjustable temple length for helmet compatibility, and (3) Switchlock Technology to assist in lens changes for different lighting scenarios.  These features dictate much of the design, with organic surfaces flowing between the components, inspired by whisps of smoke.  Much of the mechanical development of its 27 individual components was done in parallel with CAD modeling, so the key was to stay flexible and lean on design instincts to deliver the finished product within a timeline that was set in stone--this frame was to be unveiled with Cavendish wearing it in the 2015 Tour de France.

Sketches are shown to illustrate design intent that guided the CAD model, with credit to Oakley Design department.

[Hollowpoint Hinge]  With a marketing tagline "One screw is one too many," the Hollowpoint Hinge was developed with a pressed-in sleeve rather than a typical screw.  First developed over 10 years ago, this smoothly operating spring hinge is still being used in new Oakley products today.

Sketch is shown to illustrate design intent that guided the CAD model, with credit to Oakley Design department.

[Next to nothing. Again.]  EVZero was made in the vein of the original Sub Zero launched in 1992.  Maximizing lightness, there is no front frame and the temples have deep core-outs in the back, with a thin, lightweight c-channel developed to maintain rigidity.  The result is a frame that weighs in at only 22 grams, and has become a staple of Olympic athletes since its launch in 2016.