Brooklyn Boulders

illustration | concepting

Brooklyn Boulders is a rock climbing gym with one location in the West Loop of Chicago. I am a part of the youth program, which includes kids' classes for anyone 5-12, a 101 and JC team, and a competitive climbing team called the BKBeasts. 

the problem

After teaching the kids' classes at Brooklyn Boulders, I noticed some kids were not improving very much over time or didn't entirely understand the grading system. As a visual learner, I empathized and thought that the grades might just be hard for some kids to imagine as levels that they can improve upon and achieve the harder they climb each day.

the solution

I decided to create something colorful, tangible, and collectible--two sets of accomplishment pins for top rope climbing grades and bouldering. Since bouldering is more challenging for kids, I designed the bouldering set to be more engaging and elusive, as if you're coming through the forest discovering some kind of fantastic gem.