UX Design
Designing a Waitlist System
Hijack Poker
Summary
As Lead Experience Designer, I spearheaded the development of a waitlist feature for an online poker platform, addressing critical user friction points around table access and game continuity. This two-week design project, part of a larger two-month development cycle, transformed the player experience by introducing an intelligent queue system with intuitive visual feedback.
Problem Statement
User Challenges:
Players couldn't join full tables, forcing manual table monitoring
Table creators lost spots after 10 minutes of inactivity
No system in place to maintain game flow and player engagement
Business Impact:
Reduced player retention due to access friction
Decreased table creation due to timeout concerns
Missed opportunities for player engagement
Research & Discovery
Data Collection
Gathered qualitative feedback from "Poker Insiders" Discord community
Analyzed platform analytics to understand abandonment patterns
Studied poker game dynamics to determine optimal timing (3 hands = 30-second window)
Solution Design
Key Features
Queue Management System
Intuitive waitlist joining process
Visual position indicator
Auto-seat functionality with opt-in choice
Visual Feedback System
Dynamic orange gradient hourglass showing waitlist position
Position 3: Initial orange gradient
Position 2: Increased gradient fill
Position 1: Enhanced gradient fill
Ready state: Full orange fill with notification banner
Notification System
Modal prompt for auto-seat preference
30-second join window for manual option
Clear visual hierarchy prioritizing active tables
Design Challenges & Solutions
Mobile Information Architecture
Challenge:
Complex data display requirements (blinds, queue position)
Limited screen real estate
Need to maintain active table priority
Solution:
Implemented dynamic, collapsible cards
Consolidated multiple waitlisted tables
Real-time updates for available tables
User Flow Optimization
Before:
Redundant information screen after table selection
Multiple clicks required to join waitlist
Unclear status indicators
After:
Streamlined direct-to-waitlist flow
Single-tap waitlist joining
Clear visual feedback system
Design Process
Initial Research & Wireframing
Iterative Design
Prototype Development
Created interactive demonstration video
Tested multiple notification patterns
Refined visual feedback system
Developer Handoff
Comprehensive design file annotations
Clear state change specifications
Ongoing implementation support
Technical Considerations
Accessibility Implementation
WCAG compliance for color contrast
Clear visual hierarchy
Accessible notification system
Screen reader compatibility
Responsive Design
Web:
Prominent waitlist indicators
Integrated table information
Optimized for desktop interaction
Mobile:
Dynamic card system
Consolidated information display
Touch-optimized interface
Impact & Learnings
While quantitative analytics are still pending, this project delivered significant improvements to the poker platform's user experience through thoughtful UX decisions. Key learnings centered around the critical balance between information density and usability - particularly evident in our decision to eliminate redundant screens and consolidate information into dynamic cards. The success of the gradient-based visual feedback system demonstrated the value of intuitive status indicators, while the prototyping process proved essential for stakeholder alignment and developer handoff. This project reinforced the importance of making data-driven decisions while maintaining a focus on user needs and technical feasibility.
