The Nintendo Switch app serves as compliment to the game console for game specific services and voice chatting.
Problem: The current experience is bare bones, with faulty and little to no functionalities to enhance a user's gaming experience.
I worked with one other designer to reconceptualize the Nintendo Switch app to be more comprehensive, serving as hub for the gaming community and an area to let users be a part of the Nintendo community beyond their friends' list.
Role: Lead designer
Responsibilities:
Discovery, user research, workshopping, ideation and iteration,
end-to-end UI.UX
Timeline: 1 month
Competitive analysis
I compared at how other gaming apps were used and what features they had that set them apart from one another.
Key findings
Messaging functionalities Messaging capabilities connect family, friends and community together
Online store
An online store with games and merch provides a space for gamers to make a purchase
Achievements
An achievement section entices gamers to keep playing and feel good their goals
Nintendo Switch
Sony Playstation
Discord
Steam
User interviews
I interviewed 5 people ranging from having little gaming experience to avid gamers who play on all consoles daily. After learning more about what they want out of gaming, I learned there was a need for:
Game reviews
All interviewees wanted to know more about different games and explore ones they have never seen before, but searching for this and going on different sites is overwhelming.
Personalized recommendations
Finding new games can be difficult and overwhelming. Interviewees wanted a way to find games based on what they played and what they liked.
Community
There was a commonality of feeling a disconnect between gaming and the community around it specifically with Nintendo games. Interviewees wanted to stay connected with not only their friends, but with livestreamers and influencers in some way.
Discovered personalized recommendations, the latest news on your favorite games and stay up to date with your friends and other gamers around the world!
Home page
Discover
Shop
Friends: Profile page
Messages
My Forums
Results
+100%
interest from user interviews
After reviewing the reconceptualized experience with interviewees, they all agreed that they would want to download and use this experience.
Considerations
Although there is expressed interest in using this redesigned app, how much interest would it be for the general public? Is another social media app too overwhelming to use?
What would be the long term usage of this experience look like?
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