Summary
As Lead Experience Designer, I spearheaded the development of a waitlist feature for an online poker platform, addressing critical friction points around table access and game continuity. This project transformed the player's experience by introducing a queue system with intuitive visual feedback.
Problems/Issues
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
Decreased table creation due to sessions timing out
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 current game dynamics to determine optimal timing (3 hands = 30-second window)
Solution Design
Design Challenges
Mobile Information Architecture
Challenge:
Complex data display requirements (blinds, queue position)
Limited screen real estate
Need for prioritizing active tables
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
After:
Streamlined direct-to-waitlist flow
Clear visual feedback system
Aftermath
Key Changes & Takeaways
Importance of balancing information density with usability
Value of eliminating unnecessary UI elements
Success of visual feedback for user engagement
With user-testing, we gained valuable insights into limiting waitlists and active tables for an optimal gaming experience
Pending Analytics:
User adoption rate
Average waitlist time
Auto-seat usage percentage
Player retention metrics
