Climb Nav

Physical Prototyping + UX Design + Mobile Design

Timeline: 2 Months | Team: Cameron Fahsholtz

Introduction

Multi-pitch alpine climbing is an intense adventure sport that requires expert level climbing knowledge, accurate rock navigational skills, and precise communication with your climbing partner. Even as a veteran multi-pitch alpine climber, nature can limit your abilities.

What is Climb Nav?

Climb Nav is an application and physical prototype for outdoor multi-pitch alpine climbing. It assists climbers with navigation and communication while on the rock face. The physical climbing box contains emergency climbing supplies and attaches to the user’s climbing harness. The climber’s phone slots into the box, making the application accessible mid climb.

Climbers face challenges accessing route information, tracking their route, communicating with their climbing partner, and storing emergency supplies.

Research

Given the limitations of using climbing guidebooks and the Mountain Project app for navigation, I conducted four semi-structured interviews with experienced alpine rock climbers to gain insights how to make alpine climbing safer.

Storyboards

Storyboard of design requirement implementation — Solution

Safety container enables radio communication, emergency supply storage, and easy phone access.  

Sketches

Initial sketch of physical product's functionality

Emergency supplies the product will hold

How the emergency supplies will be contained

How the phone will be held in the product and display the application

Physical Prototype

Phone Insertion

Clipping To Harness

Radio Communication

Accessing Safety Supplies

App Provides Crucial Route Navigation for Climbers. 

User Flow For Navigating an Alpine Climbing Route

User flow for the task of navigating a climbing route

Finding Route to Climb

Navigating The Route

Map screen of application after route recording has started

Map screen of application with written route directions

Map screen of application with radio button being held down

Ending Navigation and Recording

Map screen of application with finish or resume buttons displayed at the bottom of the screen

Post recorded route screen that shows user route data

Reflection

Climb Nav was a powerful interaction design exercise to consider how climbers' actions are affected by their natural environment. I'm proud of the cohesive visuals and navigability of the high-fidelity screens. The physical container's ergonomics and weight distribution need improvement.  

Reflection After Firsthand Multi-Pitch Climbing Experience

Since the creation of Climb Nav, I have climbed a multi-pitch tower in Southern Utah. While climbing that tower, I found it difficult to keep track of my route, access route information, and communicate with my climbing partner.

My research based design decisions led to an application that I believe is needed in multi-pitch alpine climbing to increase the safety and accessibility of the sport.

The physical container that holds this application currently is not designed to be durable enough to withstand alpine climbing conditions. It is designed with the wrong material and structure.