kelsee campbell

Backcountry Buddy
Discover new partners for outdoor pursuits
PROJECT
Personal
ROLE
Research, Ideate, Design, Prototype
TIMEFRAME
January - March 2021
TOOLS
Figma
SUMMARY
Overview
Backcountry sports, such as ice climbing, backcountry skiing, and mountaineering require a specific set of skills, mental fortitude, and problem-solving abilities. These aren't sports that you (normally) want to do alone, which is why it’s imperative to find a partner with a set of skills, risk-assessment, and experience that aligns with your values.
Problem Statement
Backcountry enthusiasts need a way to connect with partners of similar skill and risk level, so they can achieve their outdoor pursuits confidently and safely.
Design Process
Using the Double Diamond Framework, I divided my design process into four segments:
-
Discover: User interviews to explore problem statement.
-
Define: Identify pain points and areas of opportunity.
-
Design: Ideation to explore potential solutions.
-
Deliver: Design prototypes to test and iterate.
STEP ONE: DISCOVER
Research
I conducted interviews with 5 users who were all backcountry enthusiasts with varying ages, locations and backgrounds.
My interview goals were to:
-
Discover how backcountry enthusiasts currently identify partners.
-
Understand which partner criteria is important to them.
Testimonials

“I think there needs to be a network to bring outdoor communities together. Something other than Facebook... I deleted my account because it became too toxic.”
“There is something missing to connect people together for shared experiences. Sure, I can meet people through an REI class... but how can I vet out people that aren’t aligned with my interests and values?”
“My backcountry partner selection process depends on the sport, but: experience, similar risk profile, eagerness and someone who won't quit.”
From my user interviews, I found that my initial hypothesis was correct by confirming that individuals:
-
Want to connect with partners based on factors, such as: values, risk level, and skill level.
-
Have difficulty connecting with other backcountry enthusiasts.
-
Prefer to participate in outdoor activities with another person due to social and safety needs.
Findings
STEP TWO: DEFINE

