Boulderball Ìran Ìkọ́ni àti Eré Ìdárayá by Martin Oberhauser

Boulderball Ìran Ìkọ́ni àti Eré Ìdárayá by Martin Oberhauser is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Irin A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Ohun-ìṣeré, Eré àti Ohun Àfẹ́ṣeré Competition Category.

IrinOhun-ìṣeré· 2024

Boulderball Ìran Ìkọ́ni àti Eré Ìdárayá

by Martin Oberhauser

Client: Boulderball

Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Irin A' Design Award Winner in Ohun-ìṣeré Category

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The Design

About Boulderball Ìran Ìkọ́ni àti Eré Ìdárayá

Ògiri gígùn àpáta tó kéré jùlọ ní àgbáyé. Boulderball jẹ́ ìran ìkọ́ni àti eré àkọ́kọ́ tí a dàpọ̀ tí a ṣe pàtó fún àwọn olùgun, ìkọ́ni agbára ìka àti ìmọ̀ ìṣe gígùn. Tí a mú látara àwọn olùgun, Boulderball kó ìran ìkọ́ni gígùn tó péye àti eré ìmúlò ọwọ́ fún àwọn olùgun sínú bọ́ọ̀lù kékeré kan tí a lè gbé lọ sí ibi gbogbo. Nípa ètò ìkópọ̀ tuntun (fí sí kí o sì ṣeré) àwọn ohun ìdìmú gígùn náà ń pa ìkọ́lé náà pọ̀ wọ́n sì ń pèsè àwọn ibi ìsopọ̀ fún ìkọ́lé àkọ́kọ́ náà.

The Recognition

About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Irin A' Design Award

Boulderball Ìran Ìkọ́ni àti Eré Ìdárayá jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Irin A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ olókìkí tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe tó dára tí wọ́n pàdé àwọn ohun tí iṣẹ́ àti ilé-iṣẹ́ nílò tí a retí láti ọ̀dọ̀ àwọn ẹ̀dá tí a ṣàwòṣe dáradára. Àwọn olùborí Irin ń fi ìjáfáfá ńlá, ìmọ̀ pàtó gíga, òye ògbóǹtarìgì àti agbára ìṣẹ̀dá àwọn olùṣẹ̀dá wọn hàn. A retí pé Boulderball Ìran Ìkọ́ni àti Eré Ìdárayá yóò jẹ́ ẹ̀dá tí a kà sí gidigidi, tí a gbóríyìn fún tí a sì nífẹ̀ẹ́, tó wúlò tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Irin A' Design Award yìí ń kó àwọn ọ̀nà tó dára jùlọ ilé-iṣẹ́ jọ, ó sì ní àwọn ànímọ́ ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ tó péye tí a so mọ́ ìmọ̀ ṣíṣe àti ẹ̀bùn. A bọ̀wọ̀ fún Boulderball Ìran Ìkọ́ni àti Eré Ìdárayá nítorí ìfọ̀kànbalẹ̀ rẹ̀, a sì ṣàwòṣe rẹ̀ láti pèsè ìmúdára ìgbésí ayé tó ń ran ayé lọ́wọ́ láti di ibi tó dára jù.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The smallest bouldering wall in the world

Boulderball, the first combined training tool and game specifically made for climbers, finger-strength training and climbing technique.
Inspired by climbers, the Boulderball packs an ideal climb-training tool and fidgeting game for climbers into a small ball that can be brought along everywhere.
Dimensions & Packaging: 110 mm x 110 mm x 110 mm
Tags: game, training tool, boulderball, studiooberhauser, climb
Production Technology: Injection molding made in Italy.

The primary structure consists solely of a uniform element held together by the handles.

The Boulderball is made of the probably most versatile plastic on the market due to its heat resistance and moisture and chemical barriers. It is a product growing in recyclable popularity and can be recycled to create hard-wearing plastic materials such as bins, handles, cases etc.
Design Challenge: The difficulty was finding a design that would reduce production costs, enabling the product to be manufactured in Italy.
Research: Boulderball is a strategic and cognitive game derived from bouldering training, aimed at improving mental acuity and physical dexterity. Developed by experts in sports science and cognitive science, this game uniquely combines physical engagement with cognitive challenges to enhance creativity, concentration, and finger grip strength. Manufactured in Italy, its innovative design allows for cost-effective production without compromising quality. The game has undergone extensive testing with both world-class climbing athletes and children, demonstrating its versatility and effectiveness in training across all ages. Boulderball's compact and portable nature makes it an ideal tool for climbers of all levels, facilitating an accessible and engaging approach to climbing training.
Inspiration: Bouldering is not just about physical strength; it requires the creativity to identify the shortest route, the strength to keep fingers on the holds, and the concentration to focus on the fingertips of both hands and feet. These are skills necessary not just for bouldering but for people of all ages, though daily training is needed to develop them.
The rules of Boulderball are simple: use up to three fingers to move the ball to the designated hold parts without dropping it. The surface of Boulderball features variously sized and textured hold parts designed to be supported just with fingertips, mimicking the sensation of actual bouldering. A significant level of fingertip strength is required, as well as a sophisticated balance sense. Like bouldering, the tension remains high until the goal is reached because a small mistake can cause the ball to fall.
The round structure of the Boulderball is the canvas for eight different climbing routes, specifically designed for different skill levels and climbing techniques. The routes on the Boulderball are all color coded and match a set of playing cards which serve as guides for the game. The playing cards are inspired by the greatest climbing routes on the world's most difficult peaks. The cards set your next steps and can be used to challenge yourself or your friends, teaching you new handgrips.
Project Duration: The project started in Bolzano in 2022 and finished in Bolzano in 2023.
Operation Flow: Boulderball teaches you problem solving.

The playing cards are inspired by the greatest climbing routes on the world's most difficult peaks. The cards set your next steps and can be used to challenge yourself or your friends, teaching you new handgrips and problem solving. Different climbing holds of different shapes and sizes guide you through the route to the end point. Strength, conditioning and finger-technique can thus be trained on the go, whether at home, in the office, at school or as warm-up before a climbing session.
With Boulderball, for the first time ever, climbers are enabled to closely observe and analyze finger-technique, positioning and efficiency through a small, lightweight and super portable climbing gadget.
Just throw it into your backpack and use it to boulder it all, with the Boulderball.
Image Credits: Image #1: ©studiooberhauser, Image #2: ©boulderball, Image #3: ©studiooberhauser, Image #4: ©studiooberhauser, Image #5:©Lukas Kahn