Building Delights & Engagement
Role
Interaction design, Visual design, Usability testing, Prototype.
People’s memory of an event is fragmented. Instead of remembering the whole experience minute-by-minute, we summarize it with peaks and final moments. Experience design is to identify key moments, design enjoyable key moments, and to provide a solid ending of that event.
About the project
In gameplay experience, scoring is an important indicator for players to gauge his/her skill mastery, and to provide celebratory opportunities. Fairway’s golf-inspired score system presents challenges in clarity. Most Fairway players are not familiar with golf rules.
I was responsible for the heuristic evaluation, user journey, UX strategy, prototype, and design specification. I also took part in user research, interaction design, and UI explorations.
Research
I started with the heuristic evaluation of Fairway’s score & progression system. Journey mapping confirmed earning stars and filling up combo meters were key moments to create a positive in-game experience.
UI Explorations
While improving the clarity of score UI was the goal, we took this opportunity to introduce new visual languages to this 8-year-old game. I worked closely with art lead, game designer, programmers, and UI artist to hash out options.
Score UI exploration
Fine-tuning Interaction
Great Shot is a great way to build up excitement during game play. Feedback needs to be precise and appropriate to set the right expectations for players. I worked closely with the programmer and artist to polish the interaction sequences, given the technical limitations.
Selected design iteration spec.
Validate
Feature performance was monitored closely after launch. Over time the updated star and combo proved to be promoting positive emotion at peak & final moments.
Score and Great Shot meter in final build