Karl Ludwig

Industrial Design, 2023

Mosaic is an outdoor bouldering hub made from 3D-printed concrete. It facilitates diverse, readily accessible outdoor climbing and explores innovative use of 3D concrete construction printing.

Large-scale concrete printing is an emerging technology in which concrete is extruded in layers to create three-dimensional structures. OSU’s Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence is acquiring a cutting-edge concrete printer, and this project contributes to the exploration of its potential in creative manufacturing contexts, demonstrating how concrete printing can both be leveraged and complemented by other technologies to create ideal solutions for climbing.

The Mosaic bouldering wall utilizes molded components to create nuanced climbing features, radiant heat to maximize usability during colder weather, and integrated LED lights that allow climbers to build their own routes and use the permanent concrete features in an endless combination of ways. An accompanying app enables this customization with augmented reality while connecting climbers and their shared database of climbing routes.

Mosaic establishes a symbiotic relationship between rock climbing and concrete printing, resulting in a high-quality, resource-efficient outdoor climbing venue and thought-provoking insights about the capacity for integrated technology to activate printed concrete.

Karl Ludwig is a Senior Industrial Design student from Toledo, Ohio. He is the former President of OSU's chapter of the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA). He is an avid rock climber and outdoorsman. Upon graduating, Karl will be working for Ohio State’s Fisher Leadership Initiative, helping students to build leadership skills through experiential rock climbing and mountaineering expeditions.