SCORACE BOULDER
Introducing Bosco Scorace Bouldering, a dynamic climbing destination in western Sicily fueled by an impassioned climbing community.
Engaged by Davide, the driving force behind this venture, I undertook the challenge of crafting an exceptional guidebook to elevate the area's profile and secure vital funding. To achieve this, a strategic combination of presale crowdfunding and targeted sponsorship campaigns was executed targeting England and Italy.
The guidebook has been pubished in two languagers, English and Italian.
001 The Conceptual Spark
002 Navigating the Design Process
003 Crafting Compelling Content
004 Sculpting the Design
005 The Guidebook
006 Galvanizing Crowds
007 Cultivating Sponsorships
Figma | Ai | Lrc | Ps | Sqsp
001 THE CONCEPTUAL SPARK
A glaring void defined the climbing guidebook scene - a lack of engaging, captivating designs. Despite a few creative attempts, the existing offerings fell short.
Guided by a perspective that champions climbing's inherent fun and camaraderie, I sought to break from the self-aggrandizing norm. Climbing isn't about showcasing; it's about embodying the spirit of adventure, forging friendships, and cherishing experiences. This ethos resonated deeply with Davide.
A shared affinity for 90s comic books sparked an ingenious idea: melding the thrill of Spiderman comics with the bouldering landscape. I envisioned interactive rock characters imparting climb information. This concept garnered Davide's immediate enthusiasm, igniting our collaborative journey.
002 NAVIGATING THE DESIGN PROCESS
Designing a functional guidebook posed unique challenges, demanding a balance between technical usability and visual clarity. Navigational ease was essential, as were clear visuals to facilitate climbers' understanding.
Davide meticulously cataloged area routes, capturing basic photos and meticulously plotting paths on the boulders. Armed with his comprehensive list, my task involved sourcing high-quality images, drone shots for mapping, and supplementary area descriptions.
003 CRAFTING COMPELLING CONTENT
A trip to Sicily provided the opportunity for a comprehensive photoshoot, considering the challenging lighting conditions posed by the boulders. The focus was on capturing textures and features, crucial for clear comprehension.
Additionally, this trip spurred the creation of supplementary content that enriched the guidebook experience. Of course, climbing was intertwined with this immersive journey.
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004 SCULPTING THE DESIGN
Infused with vibrancy, charm, and entertainment, the guidebook design journey commenced. Leveraging Adobe Illustrator, I began crafting the initial layout. Strategic font selection, comic-style bubbles, vignettes, and thematic elements for the three primary sectors - Hawaiian (blue), prehistoric (green), and space-themed (red) - took shape.
However, integrating photography with comic aesthetics posed a challenge.
To bridge this gap, I pioneered photo editing techniques, merging comic aesthetics with legible rock features. This involved layering edited photos with outlined rock details, creating a seamless fusion. The automation of this process via Lightroom and Photoshop streamlined photo enhancements.
After shaping the layout and finalizing the index, a tangible paper draft emerged, underpinned by Illustrator's versatile editing capabilities.
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005 THE GUIDEBOOK
The culmination of meticulous planning and creative ingenuity resulted in a guidebook that stands as a vibrant testament to Bosco Scorace Bouldering's allure.
Within its pages, the synergy of climbing information and comic book aesthetics comes to life, capturing the essence of adventure. Each section unfolds like a chapter in a captivating story, with vivid visuals and engaging narratives guiding climbers through the bouldering wonderland.
This guidebok has been realized in both Italian and English.
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006 GALVANIZING CROWDS
Presale crowdfunding took center stage as a precursor to the guidebook's release. Collaborating with a developer colleague, we developed a captivating landing page, serving as the guidebook's introduction.
Strategic email campaigns and targeted social media promotion channeled traffic to this page. Subsequent sales occurred through my existing climbing tips platform, synergistically boosting sales while enhancing brand visibility.
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007 CULTIVATING SPONSORSHIPS
A meticulously curated market database facilitated a precisely targeted outreach campaign. Personalized communication aimed at securing sponsorships for guidebook advertising space.
While conventional interest in guidebook advertising had waned, our innovative project stirred excitement among brands seeking novel opportunities.
Esteemed brands such as La Sportiva and Wild Country, alongside local establishments, embraced our groundbreaking endeavor.
Post-campaign, a gratitude-focused landing page was dedicated to sponsors, amplifying our appreciation via email and social platforms.
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