Bouldering Merch
Limited edition t-shirt design for Urban Climb's Boulderfest 2026 that captures the fun and challnging nature of the sport.
Duration
December 2025
Client
Urban Climb
Services
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Graphic Design
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Print Design
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Illustration
Challenge
Every year, Urban Climb West End hosts a bouldering competition called Boulderfest which features a limited edition t-shirt included in the ticket prices for entry. Before the 2026 Boulderfest, I wanted to create my own version of what I would want to see from the event shirt that year. I challenged myself to create something that felt true to the Urban Climb's illustration styles of the past while designing something new and vibrant that climbers would want to wear during the competition.
Solution
The end results were a front and back design that came in three shirt colour options, giving the compeitiors agency in the complimentary product and therefore a stronger connection to the shirt. Previously, designs were released with one option for volunteers, and one for competitors. However, allowing choice means that climbers can still feel connected to the event adn other competitors thorugh a shared design, but get to express themselves individually thorugh their colour choice.
The design itself features a jigsaw of climbers in positions that show movement but also create a sense of connection through being placed in a way where they fill the spaces left by other climbing positions. These climbers featured are in an exaggerated cartoon style, true to Urban Climb shirts of the past where people are represented in abstract or stylised manners.
Impact
This shirt design ended up being seen by climbers at Urban Climb in the lead up the the 2026 Boulderfest and complimented for its style. Though not chosen or relfecting the eventual design for the veent, it did lead to my partnership with Gripswich Bouldering in creating their first merchandise for their new gym that opened in June of 2026.