2023
Fantasy Finance - The Game
Lead UI UX Designer
Fantasy Finance emerged as an independent venture, breaking free from the confines of the main Invstr app to explore gaming and finance integration with greater depth and flexibility. By separating from its parent app, Fantasy Finance could focus on tailoring its platform to the needs of gaming enthusiasts and finance fans, introducing innovative features and diverse monetization strategies. The project aimed to provide a dynamic space for gamers and finance enthusiasts alike, offering enhanced gaming capabilities, gamification elements, and potential rewards. This strategic move enabled Fantasy Finance to flourish, driving user engagement, attracting a diverse audience, and solidifying its position as a premier destination for gamified finance experiences within the competitive gaming market. By addressing user needs and capitalizing on its newfound flexibility Fantasy Finance received positive reviews and witnessed significant user engagement and monetization, affirming its position as an influential player in the gaming and finance space.
Project Goals
1.
Create a seamless and interactive user experience within Snapchat that effectively blends education and entertainment to make financial literacy accessible and engaging for users aged 15 to 25.
2.
Integrate real-time news articles and a comprehensive financial dictionary into the game to provide users with up-to-date investment information and essential financial knowledge in a risk-free environment.
3.
Utilize Snapchat's platform features to develop an immersive fantasy investing game that entertains users while educating them about investment risks and market dynamics, empowering them to make informed financial decisions in the future.
The Design Process
Research
Understanding the user and competitors.
User and stakeholder interviews.
Define
Design
Designing the organization and structure of information.
Low fidelity & high fidelity wireframes. Preparing realistic prototypes.
Visual design including preparing style guides, branding and UI design.
Test
Project Case Study
My Role
As the lead UX/UI designer, I defined the project's objectives, outlined tasks, and identified key pain points for resolution. I spearheaded the creation of a new design system, refreshed UI, and improved UX, overseeing the design team and ensuring all elements were prepared for a seamless app handover, managing the design process from inception to completion. Additionally, I facilitated the creation of high-quality prototypes before development commenced, ensuring seamless functionality and user interaction throughout the design process.
The Challenge
Fantasy Finance emerged to address several crucial issues and user needs within the gaming and Fantasy Finance was conceived to liberate itself from the constraints of the main Invstr app, thereby enabling the addition of more features and the exploration of new monetization avenues within the gaming sphere. This separation allowed for a more focused development approach tailored specifically to the needs and desires of gaming enthusiasts and finance fans alike. Technical constraints were carefully navigated to ensure the creation of a standalone platform with enhanced gaming capabilities, gamification elements, and monetization strategies distinct from the core Invstr app.
The target users for Fantasy Finance covered a diverse audience of gamers, finance enthusiasts, and individuals interested in skill-based competitions. These users sought a platform that not only provided entertainment but also offered opportunities for strategic decision-making, competitive gameplay, and potential rewards. Specific user needs included a seamless and engaging gaming experience, access to real-time financial data for informed decisions, diverse gaming features for ongoing engagement, and avenues for monetization through in-game transactions or rewards. By addressing these user needs and leveraging the newfound flexibility outside the main app's constraints, the project aimed to establish Fantasy Finance as a premier destination for gamified finance experiences while achieving key business KPIs such as user acquisition, engagement, and revenue growth.
The Solution
In my role as the lead UI/UX designer for Fantasy Finance, my priority was aligning with the project's core objectives while addressing user needs and enhancing overall engagement. Leveraging insights from the data within the Invstr app, we recognized the increasing complexity users faced as the main app evolved into a comprehensive investment platform. Our primary strategies involved diversifying monetization and reward-based gaming channels within Fantasy Finance, while also simplifying the overall gaming experience to ensure ease of use for users.
To achieve these objectives, we introduced an upgraded shop within Fantasy Finance, providing users with various tools and enhancements to boost their performance and competitiveness, thereby expanding opportunities to earn rewards. Additionally, we incentivized participation in competitions as another avenue for users to improve their skills over time and earn rewards, fostering a competitive environment where strategic decision-making was crucial for success. By encouraging both in-game transactions and active participation in competitions, we aimed to enrich the gaming experience and promote skill development among users.
We also strategically curated features that emphasized skill-based competition, such as global leaderboards and daily challenges, to provide users with additional avenues to showcase their abilities and heighten the competitive spirit within the community. We also streamlined the user interface by removing unnecessary features from the existing Invstr app, enhancing the overall usability and accessibility of Fantasy Finance. Simplifying designs and focusing on core gaming elements ensured that users could easily navigate the platform and immerse themselves in the gameplay experience. Additionally, targeted messaging further reinforced our objectives by motivating users to strive for goal achievement and actively participate in competitions, fostering a dynamic and engaging gaming environment centered around skill-based gameplay and user engagement.
The Results
The success of the Fantasy Finance project was assessed using various key metrics including user acquisition rates, daily active users (DAU), engagement metrics such as session durations and repeat visits, in-game transaction revenue, and overall player satisfaction scores, all of which consistently reflected positive user feedback. Insights from reflections underscored the significance of striking a balance between gamification elements and financial strategies, conducting iterative testing, and fostering collaborative teamwork throughout the project lifecycle.
The Softwares
I have used the following software to create this project.
Figma
