SnowLabs Case Study

OVERVIEW

Many aspiring snowboarders and skiers hit a wall when choosing a resort. They're overwhelmed by options and unsure what to expect.

I tackled this challenge by designing SnowLabs, a trip planning website that simplifies resort selection, matching riders with the best slopes for their skill level so they can confidently travel plan without hesitation.

ROLE

User Experience
Game Design
Level Design

TOOLS

Figma
Unity
C#

PROJECT DURATION

3 months

CHALLENGE

Problem Statement

New snowboarders and skiers often struggle with uncertainty and a lack of relevant information when choosing a resort. Existing travel planners provide static data, falling short of preparing them for the actual on-mountain experience and making it difficult to find ideal conditions or trail difficulties.

Seeing this problem, and drawing on my passions as both a beginner snowboarder and a lifelong gamer, I designed SnowLabs. My goal was to create an immersive solution that could provide a realistic preview of resorts, empowering users to choose confidently. This ambition drove me to learn Unity and C#, integrating game development directly into my UX design process to solve a real user problem in an innovative way.

ACTION

Interviewing & Journey Mapping

To build a truly impactful product, I began by deeply understanding the user's perspective.

I utilized the Jobs-to-Be-Done (JTBD) framework to uncover the core motivations of new snowboarders and skiers planning a trip. By mapping their full journey from initial interest to post-trip reflection, I pinpointed critical pain points and significant opportunities for dramatic improvement. This process revealed a key insight: users primarily sought confidence and preparation, not merely static information.

ACTION

User Flows

I methodically planned the user flow to depict each stage of the user's journey, from the first interaction to the core interactive gameplay.

These precise system diagrams were important in outlining the website's logical architecture, providing a smooth and intuitive progression for users.

ACTION

Usability Testing

Focusing on search, filter, and date selection functionality, feedback from the California College of the Arts' 2023 Senior Showcase revealed a strong desire for a more visually appealing and modern interface.

I moved away from reliance on traditional drop-down menus, and instead redesigned for a streamlined and intuitive style. The new interface was well-received, particularly the at-a-glance information access and the removal of unnecessary clicks, such as for changing trail difficulty. This iterative process significantly enhanced the overall user experience.

— Old Design —

— New Design —

RESULTS

Final Designs

The insights from user research, journey mapping, and iterative usability testing culminated in the final design of SnowLabs – a comprehensive and visually engaging platform that empowers new snowboarders and skiers.

Choosing a Ski Resort

Users can search for ski resorts by name or choose one from the list provided. The website offers a filter feature that lets users search for resorts of their skill level. Additionally, users can specify a future date, and the in-game experience will emulate the weather conditions for that day.

Playing a Trail

After choosing a ski resort, users select a trail to play. Each trail has descriptions explaining the difficulty of the route.

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Gameplay

After selecting a ski trail, users are put in the snowboarding experience. If the date selected has dark skies with heavy snowfall, the game will reflect that. The conditions in the game will help users prepare for their upcoming trips.

SCALE

Results & Reflection

This endeavor was a big trip, motivated mostly by my desire to obtain a thorough understanding of the video game creation process. In all of my initiatives, my primary goal is to improve communication with development teams by understanding the mechanisms they use in game creation. SnowLabs offered the ideal opportunity to go into this.

I advanced my understanding of Unity and C# by aggressively contacting pros and asking focused questions about Unity tools. This hands-on experience not only extended my understanding of game production, but it also significantly enhanced my ability to communicate with engineers. These newly acquired skills will surely be useful throughout my career in UX and Product Design, enabling more collaborative and efficient processes.

Game Design and UX Design

SnowLabs