Throwback Fantasy
By Big Money Labs
Overview
Throwback Fantasy by Big Money Labs combines fantasy sports with a casino-style interface, allowing users to draft historical players. The redesign focuses on improving usability and engagement by addressing UI and gameplay issues identified through research. Enhancements include clearer player information, simplified navigation, an intuitive drafting process, and streamlined onboarding, all supported by user feedback and testing. Additionally, the redesign aims to create a more immersive experience while making the app more accessible to new users. The result is a more intuitive and engaging app that boosts user retention, appeal, and overall user satisfaction.
Research
UI Design
User Testing
Heuristic Evaluation
Cognitive Walkthrough
Prototyping
Ideation
Sketching
Initial Mid-fi mockup of Throwback Fantasy
Target Users
Novice & Expert Fantasy Sports Players
Year
Spring 2024
Category
UX Research & Design
Challenges
Low User Retention
Users are not returning to the app due to a lack of engaging features and unclear gameplay mechanics.
Outdated UI Design
The current interface is not visually appealing or intuitive, making navigation and overall usage less enjoyable.
Complex Onboarding
New players struggle with unclear instructions and confusing gameplay, reducing initial engagement.
Diverse User Needs
Balancing the needs of casual & professional fantasy sports players with tailored & inclusive design.
Initial Research
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Researched motivations: entertainment, competition, social, strategy, rewards, skills, fun, money, and draft experience.
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Assessed throwback app viability through user needs and psychological engagement.
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Challenges: licensing, realism vs. fantasy, data accuracy, niche appeal.
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Opportunities: nostalgia, USP, education, customization, community.
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Informed design, strategy, and long-term engagement.
Motivations behind playing fantasy sports on Miro
Heuristic Evaluation
Heuristic Evaluation of Throwback Fantasy on Miro
Our evaluation uncovered key design opportunities for Throwback Fantasy, including the need to address difficult-to-read onboarding text, update the outdated dark color scheme, and simplify the overwhelming player search feature. To enhance the user experience, we prioritized creating clear onboarding instructions, designing a brighter, more modern interface, and streamlining the app's user flow. These improvements aim to significantly boost gameplay enjoyment and user engagement.
Cognitive Walkthrough
Our cognitive walkthrough of Throwback Fantasy identified several critical pain points affecting the user experience:
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Excessive Pop-Ups: Frequent interruptions detract from gameplay immersion.
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Difficult Player Search: Locating specific players proved challenging due to inefficient search functionalities.
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Oversized Logos: Large logos dominate screen real estate, reducing usability.
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Hard-to-Read Onboarding Text: Text-heavy onboarding screens make understanding the game difficult.
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Unclear Game Goals: Users struggle to grasp objectives, leading to disengagement.​​
Through user feedback, two potential development paths emerged:​​
Professional
A deep, in-depth game tailored to sports history enthusiasts, providing rich context and gameplay complexity.
Casual
A simple, casual game with an emphasis on quick, accessible, no brainer fun to enhance user engagement.
Cognitive Walkthrough of Throwback Fantasy on Miro
Final Mid-Fi Prototypes
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Mid-fi prototype video highlights key improvements: cleaner UI, better player info, improved search/drafting, and refined gameplay.
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Changes driven by user feedback to create a more intuitive, engaging experience.
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The interactive prototype (left) shows initial updates; mockups (below) reflect final refinements post-user testing.
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Please refer to the final presentation and documentation below for more details.
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​Click here ​to view the Figma prototypes.
Final Refined Mid-Fi Mockups of Throwback Fantasy (non-interactive)