Team
Sage Davis, Aanya Khaira, Alaina Keys, Isabella Gaule
Description
A product system that works towards making the climbing gym space more inclusive for visually impaired climbers.
Prompt
Design for the public space setting in collaboration with the Amazon Go ID Team.
Tools
Market Research, Competitive analysis, User Interviews, Sketching Ideation, Feature Refinement, Physical Prototyping, CAD Modeling, UI/UX Design
Timeline
10 weeks
Climbing Route Basics
1. Graded routes enable climbers to identify their ability and improve their skills
2. Routes are expressed through color and number
3. Visually impaired climbers (colorblind) struggle with distinguishing routes
Research
Team used multiple research methods to better understand visually impaired climbers needs and goals.
Methods Used:
User Journey Mapping, Benchmarking, Stakeholder Web, Storyboarding, and SWOT Analysis
Key Insights + Opportunities
Visually impaired climbers typically rely on a partner
Color-based route setting systems in climbing gyms
Current solutions rely on experimental or inaccessible technology
Ideation
Team sketched and explored many design directions, focusing on wearables, holds + system boards, and tactile cues.
Insight:
As we are designing for user safety and autonomy, we realized we needed a system of products that cover all climbing bases.
Form refinement and selection resulted in our four product family including high contrast holds, smart bolts, pocket map, and an app.
Prototyping
Team constructed foam and 3D printed models to explore possible forms.
Insight:
Form must be easily integrated into the existing gym space.
After further research through interviewing multiple climbing gym owners, we discovered our products should:
1) be able to be incorporated into the products already existing within the gym space
2) work independently of each other because not every gym will be able to integrate all three of our physical products
Solution + Final Deliverables: Vantage
Vantage is a family of products that aid colorblind rock climbers climb independently and safely.
The High Contrast Holds allow for climber to easier distinguish route grades, with shape rather than color.
The Smart Bolts snap onto the existing bolts that secure climbing holds. They connect to the app via bluetooth, and after route selection, the climbers selected route lights up through the Smart Bolts.
The Pocket Map acts as a tactile map of the climbers selected route. After route selection on the Vantage app, the Pocket Map builds the route physically. The Pocket Map can then be secured to climbers clothing and can be used throughout the whole climb.
The Vantage App ties our product family together, and allows the climber to access the Smart Bolt and Pocket Map features, as well as tracking their climbing progress and rating their climbs.
Together, our product family Vantage:
1) Creates a more inviting and open space for those with a spectrum of visual impairments
2) Shifts the responsibility away from the individual to focus on gyms providing accessibility features and equipment
3) Improves accessibility for one group which enhances the experience for everyone
4) Builds a future of climbing where all gyms are accessible to people of any ability level
