G-Pal
| Role
UX/UI Designer
| Skills
Research
Usability Testing
Prototyping
| Timeline
Sept - Jan 2025
| Tools
Figma
Lyssna
Overview
Since the rise of digital technology, online gaming has become a widely enjoyed pastime for people of all ages. While many games are well-suited for solo play, gaming with others often provides a richer and more engaging experience. To facilitate this, "Looking for Group" (LFG) apps were developed to connect gamers with others interested in teaming up, enhancing the social and interactive aspects of gaming.
Gaming is often seen as a predominantly male-orientated domain, however, there has been a significant rise in female players over the past decade, adding diversity and inclusivity to the landscape. Despite this shift in demographics, a sentiment still exists within parts of the gaming world that prevents female gamers from being fully integrated as respected members of the community.
Problem
Current LFG apps aim to connect gamers of all backgrounds, yet there is no dedicated platform specifically for female gamers—one that empowers women to manage their online interactions and provides a secure, welcoming environment for gameplay.
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Solution
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Create a mobile LFG app that provide a supportive and welcoming environment where women are comfortable with connecting with other players
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Foster an inclusive environment that encourages and empowers female gamers to participate actively without fear of harassment and toxicity
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Develop features that support community engagement and interaction among users, along with tools to ensure safe conduct
My Role
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UI/UX and Visual Designer
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Created interactive prototypes, components, visuals, and user research
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Worked closely with my mentor and design cohorts during development and iteration
1. Research & Analysis
Uncovering Insights to Drive Informed Decisions
1.1 Competitive Analysis
The limitations of existing platforms, combined with the broader issue of low awareness and popularity of such platforms, made competitor analysis a challenging yet essential task in identifying gaps and opportunities to create a solution that truly stood out in the market.
1.2 User Interviews
To tackle these challenges, I conducted extensive user research to understand the pain points of female gamers and identified opportunities for improvement in existing solutions. This research informed the design of unique features, such as customizable safety settings and community-building tools tailored to foster trust and inclusivity.
1.3 User Persona
Interviews conducted helped me develop a user persona that reflects their gaming habits, preferences, and pain points, enabling more targeted design decisions and improved user experience alignment.
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2. Information Architecture
Structuring a Seamless User Journey
2.1 Sitemap
A sitemap was created to outline the app’s structure, ensuring a clear and intuitive navigation flow while organizing key features and content for optimal user experience.
2.2 Task Flow
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2.3 User Flow
3. Ideation & Design
Transforming idea into intuitive experiences
3.1 Low-Fidelity Wireframe
During the low-fidelity wireframe phase, I sketched out potential screens that focused on core functionalities, user flows, and layout structures to establish the foundation for an intuitive and efficient design.
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3.1 High-Fidelity Wireframe
User Profile
Filter
Matchmaking
Match Success
Chat Message
Settings
3.2 User Interviews
User testing was conducted on 11 participants (ages 18-24) who have various experiences with gaming. 3 task flows were tested: Filtering matches, Finding game stats, and requesting to duo.
These task flows play a critical role in the user experience and therefore were essential to test for any potential pain points and areas of improvement. The goal of this usability test is to ensure that user needs and expectations were met.
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3.3 User Testing Results
User testing revealed that significant changes were needed for the User Profile screen and Matchmaking flow. Navigational issues were consistent, prompting the need for a more intuitive layout and clearer pathways to improve user accessibility and overall experience.
3.4 Iterations
Final Prototype
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Reflection
Overall, I found this process to be a great experience. As gaming is a huge passion of mine, I’ve always felt strongly about creating tools that improve user experiences within this space. This opportunity allowed me to combine my love for gaming with my design skills, leading to a product that aligns with my personal interests and professional growth.
Expecting mistakes and using them as opportunities to learn
Some things I learned:
Choosing the right testing method and platform
Ensuring that my design was aesthetic and accessible