Background
Climbing progression relies on proprioception and reading beta that isn’t always obvious when you’re alone on the wall. ABC blends embedded hardware and coaching logic so climbers keep learning by climbing, not by switching to a laptop tutorial.
RGB LEDs + capacitive sensors transform each modular hold into a learning node: they light up to suggest sequences, collect time-on-hold data, and react when the climber hesitates.
- Selected for Design x Designers 2019 · Milan Design Week.
- Ethnographic research + surveys with gym owners and athletes.
- Unity-driven prototype with live sensor data on a full wall module.
Research & insight synthesis
We shadowed lessons, logged interviews, and mapped the tension between climbers needing hints when stuck and gym owners needing faster ways to refresh problems. Those insights shaped both the augmented holds and the operating system behind them.
Brief distilled
Focus on indoor bouldering, build a customizable physical-digital path that improves body position and grip choices for intermediate climbers, and ensure the experience can be refreshed without rebolting the entire wall.
The resulting experience mixes analog holds with augmented cues: LED segments pulse to suggest sequences, while sensors capture data for coaches.
System architecture
Each hold is a module: translucent PU windows reveal LED guidance, capacitive sensors log grip quality, and the 360° collar channels both power and data. NFC tags let the system know exactly which hold sits where.
Hardware details
The T-nut bolt keeps compatibility with existing walls while a rotating ring locks the smart interface. Sensors detect hand placement and dwell time; NFC anchor points ensure the software understands the wall topology.
Digital companion
The ABC app combines route selection, live guidance, and post-session analytics. Climbers can request hints mid-route, while coaches push curated drills. The UI intentionally echoes analog route cards with layered data.
Climbing experience prototype
Unity drove the LED choreography and sensor visualizations on a physical wall, letting us test adaptive coaching moments with climbers. The video below captures the interaction loop.
Physical prototype & outcomes
We machined the modular holds, cast translucent PU windows, and wired the electronics for on-wall testing. The pilot demonstrated how data-informed holds can keep climbers progressing and created a template for future smart wall deployments.
- Unity WebGL demo available for remote walkthroughs (View demo, v2 coming soon).
- Hardware + firmware documentation prepared for manufacturing partners.
- Research book packaged for gym-owner conversations and sponsorship pitches.