Spartan Race #BeUnstoppable Obstacle Survival Guide

Role: Art Director, Graphic Designer

Context

80% of Spartan Race participants were using mobile devices to sign up and track events, yet there was no mobile training resource. The marketing team wanted an obstacle training app but lacked budget and developer availability. I was challenged to find a creative, no-code solution.

Creative Solutions (Mobile Application)

Solution

I designed an interactive PDF using InDesign, customized to fit mobile screens and simulate app functionality through internal hyperlinks and a navigable index. The guide was compact, visually rich, and easy to tap through, requiring minimal scrolling. I sourced photos from our team photographers, collaborated with a professional trainer for obstacle content, and handled layout, brand alignment, and production independently. I also conducted informal UX testing with coworkers to refine usability.

Impact

  • 40% of mobile users downloaded the guide from our email campaign

  • Reduced pre-race customer service questions by ~10%

  • Praised internally as a smart, scalable solution

  • Demonstrated the power of creative thinking to overcome resource limitations

Mobile Application

Survival guide screens highlight brand consistency, expertise in layout design (efficient use of space to present a lot of information), and interactive features such as an obstacle menu, appendix, and ‘Back to Top’ navigation.