Five Design Lessons I Learned From Rock Climbing
Ten years ago, I was stuck in a rut. I had been working as a graphic designer for four years at a small advertising company, with no room for growth and struggling to break free from a difficult relationship. Rather than sinking into depression, I took a chance at something new and exciting. I tried different kinds of outdoor activities — kayaking, hiking, and wilderness camping — but none of them seemed to fill the void I was feeling. I needed something more challenging, something I could immerse myself in. On a whim, I signed up for a two-month outdoor rock climbing course, even though I had no experience.
And as Bruce Lee said,
“If you want to learn to swim, jump into the water. On dry land, no frame of mind is ever going to help you.”
So I took the plunge and jumped into the challenge of rock climbing. Little did I know this new passion would change not only my physical capabilities and mental strength but also connect me with my partner and improve the way I approach problems and tackle challenges in all areas of my life.
Lesson 1: Growth Mindset
When I joined the course, I quickly realized that I was starting from scratch without prior experience or advantages. Many of my fellow students had more strength or experience, and some instructors even doubted I would stick with climbing after the course.
But I was determined to prove them wrong. It wasn’t easy, I noticed the other’s progress, and there were moments when I was weak but never gave up. And as it turns out, my perseverance paid off. Not only did I continue climbing long after the course ended, for ten years now, but I have also surpassed my instructors in skill and ability. The takeaway from my journey is that the path to success is different for everyone, and it’s important not to get discouraged or compare ourselves to others. With hard work and a growth mindset, we can all achieve our goals and succeed at things we are passionate about, even if it takes longer than we expect.
Lesson 2: Courageous Collaboration
Climbing may seem like a solitary sport, but in reality, it requires good collaboration, just like in the design process.
When a climber is leading a route, they rely on their belayer to keep them safe. This requires clear communication and a strong understanding of each other’s roles and responsibilities. As in any partnership, you can’t achieve anything without the support of your partner. This idea is also applicable to my work experience.
One year after I started rock climbing, I gained the confidence to switch my career from graphic designer to UI designer, supported by my partner. A friend offered me the opportunity to start working as a UI designer at his company. Although I knew I needed more experience in that field, I decided to challenge myself and accept the offer.
Lesson 3: Don’t Fear Failure
The best way to learn is from your practice, and the important part is that you must dare yourself, otherwise you will reach a level where you can spend many years or may only progress a little.
I know many people that do not want to climb or try difficult things because they are afraid of falling. You will only manage to climb more challenging routes once you accept that falling is part of the experience.
If you keep doing things you are 100% sure are safe, there is no progress. Same with the design: don’t be afraid to try new activities such as workshops, and research methodologies, contact your stakeholders, ask questions, and seek user sessions. There is always a first time, and failure is part of success. In design, I apply this lesson by participating in activities in which I am not an expert and want to evolve.
As Don Norman said,
“If you don’t fail at things, you are not trying hard enough.”
Lesson 4: It’s All About Progression
There are moments when we reach a particular level in our skills and need to incorporate additional actions into our training routine. This was something I realized after my maternity leave. I wanted to regain my strength and muscles, so I started doing fitness workouts at home. After a few months, I noticed that I had become a stronger climber and achieved better results than before I gave birth. The reason was that I had reached a level of experience where I needed to add more to my training routine. The same is true in design — sometimes, to continue improving, we need to step out of the project work routine and seek out additional learning opportunities. Commonly, people working for a particular product for many years don’t reach a diverse perspective of experience.
Drawing some parallels between my climbing journey and my design journey, I learned how to influence progress and push myself to try more challenging things, and this approach helped me a lot in my career growth.
Lesson 5: Problem-Solving on the Rocks
Rock climbing is more than just a physical sport — it requires a strong mind and the ability to think on your feet. As a climber, I’ve learned to analyze the conditions and come up with creative solutions when faced with unexpected challenges. And like in the design process, the journey to “sending a route” can take months or even years of patience, perseverance, and dedication.
The process of iterating and refining a UX design can be mentally exhausting, just like the process of sending a climbing route. But for both climbers and UX designers, the sense of accomplishment and pride that comes with finally succeeding is worth all the hard work and effort. It’s a testament to our dedication and determination to find the best solution.
In both climbing and design, the key is never to give up, always to keep searching for new solutions and approaches, and to embrace the challenges that come our way.
And remember:
“The only true limitation is one you set for yourself.”
Summing it Up: Lessons from the Rocks
Rock climbing has had a profound impact on my life, influencing my design work and philosophy in countless ways. It has taught me to embrace challenges, stay true to my own path, and never stop learning and improving. Through rock climbing, I’ve learned that the path to success is different for everyone, and it’s important to stay true to my own journey and not compare myself to others.
These lessons have helped me succeed not just in climbing but in all aspects of my life.
As Steve Jobs said,
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”
So next time you’re working on a challenging UX design project, remember the lessons of rock climbing. No matter what others say, no matter how hard it is, with patience, perseverance, and dedication, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
Thanks for reading! I would love to hear about your passions and what drives you in life. Let me know in the comments or by reaching out directly.
