Upswing Jump Rope Station
Upswing is a mobile, vandal-resistant jump rope station designed to create safe, accessible play opportunities for children in Richmond, Virginia while their parents visit nearby barber shops and salons. Developed in partnership with SportsBackers RVA and the VCU da Vinci Center, the project combined user research, rapid prototyping, and community testing to design a durable public play solution that encourages active outdoor engagement.
Client
SportsBackers RVA
Supervisor/Director
Allison Schumacher
PROBLEM
Many children in Richmond neighborhoods lacked safe, engaging outdoor play opportunities while waiting for parents at nearby businesses.
The client had no existing research on how children would interact with a public jump rope station.
Part of the design challenge required creating a jump rope mechanism that worked for both solo and two-person use without tangling or breaking.
The final product needed to withstand outdoor conditions, vandalism, and heavy daily use while remaining visually inviting for children.
Colleagues
Aaron Nijai
Owen Thompson
Susanna Seabourne
Gary Portillo
Deliverables
Executive Report
Jump Rope Handle Design and Prototype
Vinyl Signage
UX Research
Product Schematic
Branding Research
PROCESS
Conducted user research and observational testing at community events including the Richmond 10K.
Facilitated stakeholder interviews with SportsBackers RVA and project mentors to define requirements and constraints.
Led rapid prototyping exercises with the design team to explore structure concepts and rope mechanisms.
Organized team workflow and timelines using a Gantt chart and internal communication tools.
Conducted over 100 usability tests with children to evaluate rope length, handle usability, and engagement.
Ran a second user testing session with over 40 students at Fairfield Elementary School.
Collected parent feedback through SurveyMonkey surveys.
Collaborated with engineers to refine mechanical feasibility and durability.
Iterated handle designs using 3D printing to prevent tangling and allow both single and two-person jumping.
SOLUTION
Designed a durable, mobile jump rope station built for public urban environments.
Developed a custom jump rope handle system optimized through multiple prototype iterations.
Created clear instructional vinyl signage to guide children on how to safely use the station.
Established visual branding guidelines to maintain consistency across the product and supporting materials.
Produced a comprehensive executive report documenting research, design iterations, and final recommendations.
RESULTS
Over 100 hours of research, testing, and design iteration informed the final product
Five fully functional Upswing stations were installed across Richmond, Virginia.
The stations are actively used by children in local communities, encouraging outdoor play and physical activity.
The project received media recognition from Virginia Commonwealth University News, The Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Channel 6 WTVR.
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney publicly acknowledged the project and its impact.
The design established a scalable model with potential expansion to additional cities.
