web & mobile application
Boosted User Engagement by Adding a New Feature for Orange United's Sports Platform
My Role
Research
Discussions
Design
Dev hand-off
Team
Product Manager
Business Analyst
Designer
Developers
Duration
5 Weeks
Deliverable
Web Application
Hybrid Mobile Application
introduction
At a glance
Orange United is a sports platform that brings fans the latest updates, scores, and news. While the platform saw high traffic, the engagement was mostly passive — users would browse and leave.
The client wanted to encourage deeper interactions by creating a space where fans could connect, debate, and celebrate together. Their proposal was to add a “Community” feature to the platform.
problem statement
Despite strong traffic and rich content, the platform struggled with low user interaction as visitors only engaged in basic browsing.
How could we turn passive readers into active community members?
solution
Introducing a "Community" feature, directly accessible from the top navigation, enabling fans to engage in discussions, share their passion for sports, and build connections within the Orange United community.
research & insights
What’s the first thing users should find in Community?
To start off, we turned to the pros — platforms that have already nailed the art of community building. We studied Instagram, Reddit, Discord, and Facebook to understand what keeps people hooked.
No one wants to dig
Users expect content to be neatly organized, not hidden behind endless scrolling.
Stick to interests
Groups and categories help fans focus only on what they care about.
Different names, same idea
Reddit has communities, Discord has servers, Facebook has groups — all organize content.
Why it works?
Organized spaces keep users engaged and coming back for more.
design solution
Designing the Community Interface
After finalizing the features with the client, I jumped into designing the interfaces. Here’s a look at how the Community feature came together visually.
Topics Listing
When users click on the Community CTA at the top, they are navigated to below screen where they can browse a list of topics. They can then choose a topic to view and explore the threads within it.
Threads Listing
After selecting a topic of interest, users are taken to the threads listing page within the community. Here, they can view a list of threads related to the chosen topic. Each thread card provides detailed information, including number of views, comments, and more. Users also have the option to create a new thread, bookmark threads for later, and share them on other platforms.
Create Thread
From the thread listing page, users can create two types of threads: discussions and polls.
Thread Detail
Finally, users arrive at the thread detail page, where they can view the thread's title and description at the top, followed by the comments added by others. Users can react to the thread and individual comments, as well as add their own comments.
Topics
Basketball
Which Syracuse Sports Team has your unwavering support?
Which Syracuse Sports Team has your unwavering support?
ClaytonSayfie on Jul 13, 2023
Syracuse boasts a variety of talented sports teams. Let us know which one has captured your loyalty! Your choice could be based on their performance, your alma mater, or simply the love for the game.
Orange Basketball
(19%)
Football at the Dome
(32%)
Lax Legends
(10%)
Soccer Stars
(52%)
340 Likes
3 Shares
27k Views
233 Comments
Report
Latest
Write your comment..
Post Comment
_DC
Silver Memeber
Sad day a player has to transfer because he fears his life. Alabama fans are about as dangerous as the streets of Chicago.
Yesterday at 5:58 PM
Like
Reply
Report
ChrisBalas
Platinum Member
TrueBlueFanatic said:
I’m not surprised, just doing what losers do
A disappointing situation. Sports should be about camaraderie, not fear. Wishing the player a safer and more supportive environment in their new journey.
Yesterday at 12:04 PM
Like
Reply
Delete
TrueBlueFanatic
Platinum Member
MH20 said:
And Alabama is as dangerous as the streets of Chicago to them..
I’m not surprised, just doing what losers do
Jan 22, 2024
Like
Reply
Report
MH20
Gold Member
And Alabama is as dangerous as the streets of Chicago to them..
Jan 20, 2024
Like
Reply
Report
Latest Threads
Random thoughts after rewatching the game
Football
Tony Pollard offers strong response on disappointing season
Basketball
Report: Tennessee coach leaving for promotion
Football
USC receiver transfer commits to SEC power
Football
Texas A&M 5-star transfer Evan Stewart sets first visit
Basketball
ABOUT
STUDENT-ATHLETES
NEWS
EVENTS
MEMBERSHIP
COMMUNITY
CONTRIBUTE
LEARNINGS
The Big Takeaways
Feedback is a treasure
Getting user input early on was a game changer. It allowed us to adjust the design to better meet their needs and make the Community feature more effective. Additionally, discussing the plans with the client before starting the design ensured that I met their expectations and delivered exactly what they wanted.
Yayaya!!!
Our team received appreciation from the client for this project, which was a huge win for everyone involved.
You’ve made it this far—thanks for stopping by! Check out more of my work and don’t hesitate to get in touch.