Project Overview

Project Climbing Centre in Cloverdale is a true hub when it comes to quality bouldering within a relational, encouraging community environment. Project hosts an annual Boulder League competition, inviting other climbing gyms in the Lower Mainland to grab some friends, challenge each other and commit to that type 2 fun + grind that climbing is all about. It had been a while since merch was part of the equation, so when they reached out to me to see if I had any t-shirt ideas to add to the spirit of this fun team comp, I was excited to jump right on it!

Exploration

Climbing often makes one contort in ways they never considered or thought possible. Between mulling over the outlandish positions climbing puts you in, along with the thought of limitless spaces and having my own dreams of trying to conquer a climb, the idea of “Dream team” emerged – combining gravity defying moves with the assembly of your own dream team of friends (or soon to become friends) for the comp, a concept was born…

From Ideation to Creation

“I love it!” – words that I am always honored to hear! In fleshing out the idea more, defying the laws of physics, as is often common in dreams, became the driver for the long, winding limbs and impossible reaches made by the dreamt up characters within the illustration. As climbing is often a puzzle (or “problem” in climber jargon) to be solved, I envisioned all the pieces fitting together just so, in a 2D fashion. One whole with several intricate parts keeps the viewer’s mind wandering through the artwork. Each character combines elements from real climbers observed at the gym, where there are no shortages of distinctive styles and amazing pants to be found. A whimsical, cartoon-like and playful direction was taken with the illustration, as the spirit of the competition is fun, invitational and uplifting.

A Vision Realized

Project Climbing hoped to commemorate their annual competition with t-shirts that reflected this awesome invitation to a challenge. They wanted a design that reflected the community-oriented, playful competition. The result? A t-shirt that embraces fun, invites deeper exploration and balances being subdued, complex, friendly and embraces the epic nature of the sport.

Deliverables:

• Artwork

• T-shirt