BTSNE's Athlete and Coach Management App

CASE STUDY

Client/Company/Project Type

Client: Beat the Streets: New England

Project Type: Mobile App Design for Nonprofit Organization

Landing Page: btsne.org

Project Date

October 2023 to Present

My Role

As the lead UI/UX designer, I spearheaded the design of a comprehensive mobile app tailored to the needs of athletes, coaches, and administrators within BTSNE. My responsibilities encompassed creating an interactive, high-fidelity prototype in Figma, designing an animated graphic logo for the app's loading screen, and developing a user-friendly design system aligned with BTSNE's brand identity. I worked in close collaboration with the CEO and the development team to ensure the design solutions were technically feasible and aligned with the organization's mission.

About This Project

BTSNE, a nonprofit dedicated to leveraging the sport wrestling to teach life skills and connect underserved youth with opportunities, sought to streamline its program management through a mobile app. This platform was envisioned to organize various groups and programs, enhance communication, and track health and fitness habits. The project's goal was to deliver a design that was not only intuitive and engaging for its users but also reflective of BTSNE's energetic and impactful mission.

The Challenge

The main challenge was to design a mobile app that catered to the diverse needs of athletes, coaches, and administrators, facilitating efficient team management, communication, and event scheduling. Key challenges included:

User Experience Design: Creating an intuitive and engaging interface that accommodates the specific needs of each user group within the platform.

Brand Alignment: Ensuring the app's design system reflects BTSNE's brand identity and values.

Technical Feasibility: Balancing innovative design ideas with the practical constraints of the engineering team's capabilities.

Engagement and Retention: Incorporating features that promote regular use of the app, such as health and fitness tracking and chat functionality, to foster a strong community among users.

The Solution

The development of the BTSNE management app involved several strategic design decisions:

High-Fidelity Figma Prototype: Utilizing Figma, I designed a high-fidelity prototype that allowed stakeholders to experience and interact with the app's design before development began. This process facilitated early feedback and iterative improvements, ensuring the final design met user needs effectively.

Animated Graphic Logo: To enhance brand recognition and create a memorable first impression, I created an animated logo for the app's loading screen. This element was designed to capture the dynamism of wrestling and the energy of BTSNE's community.

User-Centric Design System: Drawing on BTSNE's brand guidelines, I developed a design system that was visually appealing and functional. This system supported a consistent and accessible user experience across the app, incorporating elements like color schemes, typography, and UI components that resonate with BTSNE's mission.

Collaboration with Stakeholders: Working closely with the CEO, developers, and other stakeholders, I ensured that the design was aligned with both the organization's goals and the technical realities of app development. This collaboration helped identify key features such as team management, health and fitness habit tracking, chat functionality, and calendar and event management, integrating them into the app in a user-friendly manner.

Results

User Engagement Strategy: The app's design incorporates features aimed at increasing user engagement and fostering community among BTSNE participants.

Project Status: The project is currently underway, with ongoing iterations to the design based on feedback from the development team and potential users.

Reflections and Next Steps: This project highlights the importance of close collaboration between designers and developers, as well as the need for a flexible design approach that can adapt to feedback and technical constraints. Future steps include user testing with actual BTSNE participants to refine the app further and ensure it meets their needs effectively.

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