Project Iron Fist
UX Designer | Fall 2024
Overview
A mobile UI/UX design project focused on simplifying how players in the fighting game community discover and attend local tournaments. The app emphasizes location-based event visibility, seamless navigation, and social coordination through Start.gg API integration and a user-centered design approach.
The Challenge
This project presented several core challenges centered around community building, feasibility, and technical constraints.
Designing ways for fighting game players to connect locally without relying solely on online tournaments or digital-only engagement.
Ensuring the app could realistically be built and maintained without excessive development costs or complex infrastructure requirements.
Leveraging GPS functionality to surface nearby locals and tournaments while keeping the experience accurate, useful, and privacy-conscious.
The Approach
Competitive Analysis
Analyzed apps like the Riot app and start.gg to validate the idea and identify ways to differentiate the project.
Technical Feasibility Research
Researched APIs and budget-friendly services to ensure core features could be realistically implemented.
Responsive Design Strategy
Designed layouts that adapt smoothly across different mobile screen sizes.
User Flow Continuity
Structured screens and interactions to create a clear, consistent flow throughout the app
Key Features
News Page
Allows the user to find news about the latest updates and events for the current fighting games featured.
Start.gg API Integration
Uses start.gg’s API to display nearby tournaments and player history from past events.
Tournament Finder
Uses a budget-friendly GPS API to pinpoint the user and nearby start.gg tournaments on the map.
Friends & Messaging
Uses an interaction system called the “Rival” system to message and find other tournaments from players you have interacted with.
Design Highlights
Project Iron Fist - Wireframe
Skill & Tools
User Research
Prototyping
Competitive Analysis
Usability Testing
Figma
Outcomes and Learning
The final prototype delivered a cohesive and fully responsive experience across multiple screen sizes, with core features functioning as intended and flows remaining consistent throughout the app.
Through this project, I learned the importance of grounding design decisions in competitive research and technical feasibility. Setting realistic constraints early helped ensure the design made sense not only for users, but also for developers responsible for building and maintaining the product.
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