Rocksports

I was asked to redesign the identity and branding for Rocksports Indoor Climbing. The building and business had existed as Brisbane’s original climbing gym for over 20 years and now had new owners, eager to breathe fresh energy into what was still a popular and respected climbing destination, but an aesthetically worn-out space. The colour palette was developed to enliven the large, relatively dark interior: white brought a cleaner, more contemporary foundation, while bright pastels introduced a playful, multi-sensory layer behind the vivid colours of the climbing holds.

BRAND IDENTITY · ART DIRECTION · ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHICS · SURFACE DESIGN · APPAREL

IDENTITY

The new identity drew directly from the geometry of the indoor climbing environment. Angular climbing walls, the movement of a climber and the existing Rocksports name were brought together to create a compact, energetic mark. The identity was designed as a flexible system, able to shift in scale, orientation and colour across the space, signage, print and apparel.

ENVIRONMENT + PATTERN

The vivid scatter of climbing holds became part of the visual inspiration for the space. Their irregular colour and rhythm informed a family of patterns and graphic interventions, drawing loosely on the expressive visual language of 1980s climbing and outdoor sports — geometric colour blocking, marbled surfaces and hand-rendered pattern.

These elements were carried into the physical environment, with large areas of colour and pattern — including hand-painted sections — applied directly to the climbing walls. The identity extended across the building façade, interior, apparel and printed collateral, creating a cohesive visual language throughout the gym.