Claire Blaeser

User Need Statement:

Claire needs a way to keep chalk residue under control without clogging HVAC systems or vacuums.

User Background:

• Started climbing when a gym opened near her dad's house

  • Got hooked on climbing and has kept climbing for the last 2.5 years

• Now is student recreation center climbing coordinator and climb instructor

• Mainly climbs indoor but has done some outdoor single pitch sport climbing with friends who bring their gear 

User Pain Points:

• Climbers at the gym forget to clip into the auto belay system

• Sometimes the auto belay system doesn't retract or catch on time

• The triple locking carabiner on the auto belay system is hard to learn/open

• Climbers are limited to the kind of chalk they can use because loose chalk gets in the air and clogs vacuums

  • Most people don't like using liquid chalk

• Harnesses are uncomfortable, especially around the thighs and crotch area

• Friends don't have enough gear to properly clean anchors and retrieve personal gear after outdoor climbs

• It's difficult to communicate with climbers/belayers on long/multi-pitch climbs

Insights:

• More expensive harnesses aren't much different from cheaper ones, just have more padding

• Signage, acronyms, and buddy systems exist to make sure climbers double check their systems and are properly attached to the system

• Most accidents are user error and due to complacency

Requirements for a Product:

• Easily cleanable

• Easy to use

• Ensures safety