2023
Roles
This is a project where I assumed the following roles:
User Experience (UX) Designer
User Interface (UI) Designer
Interaction (IxD) Designer
Deliverables
UX/UI Design:
Analysis of data
One-on-one interviews
User personas
Journey maps
Information Architecture
Low fidelity wireframes
High fidelity prototype
Usability tests and findings (WIP)
Project Specifications
Overview
Amateur soccer players and leagues face a challenge in finding a user-friendly platform that fulfills to their specific needs. There is a need for a comprehensive solution that allows easy tracking of team stats and player performances throughout the seasons. Additionally, a platform that serves as a centralized hub for multiple categories and different leagues would greatly benefit the soccer community
Despite some leagues having their own platforms that aimed at addressing these issues, user engagement has remained low and certain information gaps still persist throughout the process. There is a clear need for a more effective and comprehensive solution that ensures high user engagement and provides all the necessary information for a seamless experience
Problems
Amateur soccer players struggle to maintain a comprehensive record of their performance and progress from one season to another, lacking a dedicated platform to store and track their history effectively.
Both players and leagues face challenges in accessing timely information about upcoming matches, league details, and verifying match results, highlighting the need for a centralized platform to provide accurate and up-to-date information.
Leagues encounter difficulties managing various aspects of their operations, including scheduling, fixtures, team registrations, and player profiles, emphasizing the necessity for an all-in-one application to streamline and simplify these administrative tasks.
Proposed Solutions
Player profile and record management system
Centralized league information hub
Integrated League Management Application
Findings
Discovered that interviewed players were involved in multiple leagues and relied on social media for updates
Not direct competitors in amateur leagues
Confirmed the lack of a reliable platform to save and track their stats
Noted that referees were solely responsible for recording and sharing stats, resulting in significant data gaps
Deepening User Empathy
Creating a user persona that accurately represents players and leagues their characteristics and guides our design decisions. This user persona will serve as a valuable reference point throughout the development process, ensuring that the final solution caters to the unique requirements of amateur players, leagues and coaches.
Understanding the journey
Customer journey revealed Emotions and frustrations that could be addressed before designing:
Creating a trustworthy app with the solution of making it look neat and minimalistic but also in companion with top leagues to validate it.
We might develop a social space and success screens after completing matches or getting some milestones after the game to create more engagement while using the app
We decided during the process of creating our user journey maps that we will mainly focus on players to due to time estimations and constraints but also mainly on the decision of creating an MVP that would solve the majority of the problems of the players, “If we solve players problems we can get the league by consequence”
Creating the structure
This sitemap was rafted through extensive discussions with stakeholders and players alike. The primary goal was to prioritize key elements, with a strong emphasis on showcasing player stats as the central focus. Additionally, the sitemap highlights important league stats and matches, along with team-specific statistics. By incorporating valuable input from stakeholders and players, this sitemap ensures a user-centric approach that caters to the specific needs and interests of all users involved.
Improving designs through iterative process
Through rapid sketching on paper, we uncovered the challenge of simplifying key tasks and maintaining a single level of interaction. This exercise played a pivotal role in identifying the most appropriate existing design patterns for the app and understanding how users would seamlessly navigate between screens. By embracing this iterative process, we ensured that the final design would be intuitive and user-friendly, meeting the needs of our target audience effectively.
Chosen direction
Through numerous discussions with product owners and stakeholders, we carefully evaluated and refined the wireframes to ensure they met the project's objectives. By selecting the most promising wireframes and incorporating valuable feedback, we crafted a user-centered solution that resonated with our target audience. We even took the initiative to merge components and ideas from various wireframes, further enhancing the design process. These selected wireframes now serve as a guiding foundation for the final design, ensuring a cohesive and impactful user experience.
Final touches
After prioritizing features and finalizing the direction with the chosen wireframes, I jumped into creating high-fidelity designs. With a mobile-first approach in mind, supported by our analysis, discussions, and customer journey map findings, it became evident that mobile would be the primary device for users.
In line with this understanding, I aimed to create a minimalist app that adhered to the same design guidelines established for their website. By maintaining consistency across platforms, we sought to provide a seamless and intuitive experience for users, ensuring they feel comfortable and familiar with the app's interface
What’s next?
The design is in its final stages, with only a few remaining screens requiring polishing. Also, at the moment I’m developing prototypes that will be user-tested (work in progress). These prototypes will serve as valuable tools for gathering user feedback and validating design choices. As we approach the finalization phase, I am dedicated to ensuring that the user experience is seamless, engaging, and aligned with the project's objectives.