Project Type

Academic

As an avid indoor rock climber, I have become accustomed to social circles made within climbing gyms. Luckily, when I began climbing, I had a mutual friend who introduced me to fellow climbers. The unfortunate reality is that many new climbers can easily be intimidated and antisocial when they start attending gyms. The design challenge of this project was to create a tool that enables climbers of all skill levels to share their progress within a safe environment.

To initially understand a potential user’s needs, I conducted an online survey that was shared with the members of a local climbing gym. Through this survey, I gained both qualitative and quantitative data that could help with the ideation of a social climbing app

45% of respondents keep in touch with other climbers through social media

The increasing popularity of indoor Rock Climbing has created a subculture in which climbers want to share their progress with fellow climbers. Modern climbing grading systems offer climbers a quantitative method for tracking their progress. However, very few online platforms allow climbers to share said progress. Krimp is an app that climbers can use to share photos and videos of their climbs, join climbing groups, and locate local climbing gyms.

Design Challenge

Problem

Rock Climbers can connect via traditional social media platforms. However, these platforms lack the sense of community that could inspire climbers to push themselves to that next level. Climbing is a difficult sport that requires perseverance and motivation to meet desired goals. Climbers who lack a sense of community within their gyms could easily become frustrated during plateaus. Thus, giving climbers more reasons to either quit or climb less frequently.

Research

Primary Research

Solution

89% of respondents found that this use of social media can be used as motivation to progress as a climber

Krimp acts as a platform that can inspire climbers to push their limits by comparing and contrasting their climbing experiences with others. Many people struggle with meeting people in real life and an online platform could allow climbers to easily meet one another, resulting in a motivating sense of community. Additionally, users of such a platform could gain inspiration from fellow climbers across the globe.

Secondary Research

In addition to the primary research gained from my survey, I researched multiple peer-reviewed journals that analyzed the benefits of social engagement at climbing gyms. The data within one journal found that the social dynamic of rock climbing has a variety of benefits.

Social Constraints

Users may have to influence fellow climbers to download the app
Gen Z utilizes group features on social media more than third-party apps

“As per survey results, 46.8% self-reported as introverts, though 74.1% of participants reported engaging in social behavior during climbing sessions. This data suggested that the nature of rock climbing gyms may foster environments that enhance the social nature of introverts.”

Posner, L. (2020). Virtually invincible: The impact of social media presentation on rock climbing (Master’s thesis). University of Nevada, Las Vegas. UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. https://doi.org/10.34917/19412154

46% of survey respondents self identified as introverts

Only 36% of respondents feel comfortable sharing their climbing progress on their personal social media profiles

74% of these respondents reported that they engage in social behavior when climbing

Business Constraints

Making the app affordable/free to compete with free social media

Gym locating features may require consent from third parties

User goal: Bridget wants to connect with her climbing friends using an online app/service

Bridget’s goal is to connect with her existing climbing friend using an online app/service. Keeping this in mind, it becomes clear that an independent climbing social media platform would provide the best user experience for Bridget. Ensuring that the platform is removed from other social media can help maximize climbing-related interaction, thus improving Bridget’s overall climbing experience.

Role

UX Designer

Project Summary

Major Pain Point

Synthesis

Climbers can be uncomfortable sharing their climbing progress on traditional social media

App Constraints

Must be visually distinguishable from traditional social media

Requires a knowledge of climbing terminology

Market Research

User Persona

Opportunity

Ideation

Posting photos or videos of climbs can cause pressure to perform for an audience, potential impacts on self-esteem, and the influence of online validation on climbers' motivations and experiences.

Sharing one’s progress for anything online can be frightening, let alone on a platform in which most people don’t understand