United Hearts NBA application screen ecosystem
Neomorphism showcase

United Hearts NBA

UX/UI
Workout from the sidelines!
United hearts (UH) is a mobile application (with a smartwatch counterpart), targeted at sports fans. It adds a gamification layer to the process of cheering. By using the UH app, the user can turn their cheering into points and compete in a game that is taking place virtually next to the real deal.
My Contributions
I was assigned to the project as a user experience designer. Later on, I designed a version of the user interface aimed at basketball fans.
United Hearts NBA
Sports Mobile Application
Jan 2019 — ongoing

The application is a showpiece for the sales pitch and presentation of our in-house algorithm.
The algorithm takes in the user's heart rate and translates it to a "feeling score" or a "happiness scale". The designed application uses this algorithm to gamify sports events, for the people watching the event.
When I was assigned to the project, the algorithm was already in testing. Since the results showed promise, my superiors wanted to create an application that was mainstream, easy to use, and sellable.

Together we came up with the idea for an application that takes the output of the algorithm ("emotion score") and interlaces it with a reward system. The rewards are digital emblems for the player and in-game currency that can be used to unlock and buy special sports items (shirts, scarfs, hats, memorabilia...) in the shop.We predicted that if we wanted interesting items in the shop, we would need a big user base to attract good partners (they would provide some of the memorabilia). For that reason (and also it sounded like a good idea) we decided to add social functionality (allowing group events, friend connections, team games).

My first task was to combine all of the features discussed above in an application aimed at soccer fans. After testing different ideas and researching our potential users (we performed usability tests on ongoing local soccer matches), I provided a full user flow, and out of that I designed an MVP version of the application, that would meet the time limitations (in regards to other projects, and the size of the team assigned to this project).

United Hearts NBA minimal viable product UX
After a couple of development cycles, we started wondering about adapting the application to a different sport. As a test, I was tasked to adapt the (at that point) working prototype for a basketball fan.
I had limited time, a predefined set of screens, and one developer to take care of the implementation.
So without any major limitations (except make it fancy for investors), I decided to experiment with (at that time just emerging) neomorphic design.
This application was meant as a showcase for investors (shown to selected potential investors during the NBA playoffs) and included some changes from the original. I added a prototype shop segment, we excluded the social platform portion, and we also added Apple watch support (the original application still worked with a Mi Fit smart band).
United Hearts design system
Design system
United Hearts NBA design mockup
Phone and smartwatch visualization
Results

Due to the pandemic, we unfortunately couldn't show the "United Hearts NBA" prototype to the investors, and the original app is lacking additional exposure and testing.
I am looking forward to continuing work on the project and adapting the concept to other sports.