Next Play Games
About Next Play Games
Next Play is a live sports prediction app where users tune into real-time baseball games and make play-by-play predictions during each plate appearance (PA). The app transforms watching sports into an interactive, competitive experience by letting fans engage directly with the action on the field.
My Role
As a UX/UI Designer at Next Play Games, I focused on enhancing the user experience and designing interactive features that kept players engaged during live gameplay. One of my most impactful contributions was the design and development of boosters—a new feature that introduced strategic, game-changing elements to the app.
The Challenge
While the prediction mechanic was core to the app, early user feedback showed a need for more variety and excitement. The design team was tasked with creating a system that would:
Add layers of strategy beyond simply predicting plays.
Keep users invested, even if they fell behind in points.
Encourage competition between players while also rewarding individual skill.
The Process
1. Conceptualization
I began by brainstorming mechanics that could blend seamlessly with sports gameplay while making the prediction experience more dynamic. I drew inspiration from video game mechanics—such as “power-ups” and “special abilities”—and adapted them into the sports prediction context.
Early Screen Layout Concept
I drew mock-ups on how the boosters can appear on the Live Picks screen, how to understand what each booster does, and how to activate them
Early Booster Icon Concept Designs
When creating the designs of the boosters, I made rough sketches based on the name of the booster itself and applying a baseball theme to it
I ended up coming up with the following boosters:
Extra Plays - Gives the user two extra picks to select during a PA
Safe Points - Automatically receive an extra 10 points after a PA
Dicey - Randomly gives the player anywhere between 10 to 20 points during a PA
Shield - Protects player from an attack booster during a PA
Pirate - Steals another players points following a PA
Freeze - Prevents a user for choosing their picks during a PA
Blocker - Prevents a user from selecting a 3rd pick during a PA
Doubler - Doubles the users points during a PA
2. Designing the Boosters
I created a set of boosters that had distinct purposes:
Support Boosters: Help players increase their chances of success (e.g., doubling prediction points).
Attack Boosters: Allow players to interfere with competitors (e.g., impacting another player’s score).
Each booster needed to be visually clear, intuitive, and fun. Working with the design team, we designed custom icons and UI elements that fit within Next Play’s overall design language while making each booster unique and recognizable at a glance.
3. Iteration Through Feedback
After presenting the initial designs, I worked closely with my team leads to refine the balance between gameplay, fairness, and excitement. We also tested boosters with users in small groups, gathering feedback on clarity, usability, and fun factor.
What worked: Users enjoyed the competitive edge boosters brought and found them engaging.
What we refined: Some boosters were too powerful or confusing, so I adjusted visual cues and streamlined interactions to make them more accessible.
Designing with Users in Mind
One of the most rewarding parts of working at Next Play was the opportunity to collaborate directly with users and incorporate their feedback into the app’s design. Beyond the boosters, I worked closely with players to understand how they interacted with features such as live prediction flows, score tracking, and the overall navigation experience. By observing user behaviors, gathering feedback through testing sessions, and listening to their suggestions, I was able to identify friction points and refine designs to create a more seamless and engaging experience. These insights often challenged my assumptions and pushed me to iterate quickly, ensuring that each design decision was grounded in real user needs. This user-centered approach not only improved the functionality of specific features, it also elevated the overall usability and enjoyment of the app.
By iterating quickly based on real user behaviors and feedback, I was able to design solutions that improved clarity, pacing, and engagement. This user-centered process didn’t just shape the boosters — it informed how the app evolved as a whole, making it easier and more exciting for fans to stay connected to the game.
The Result
The Boosters feature added a new layer of strategy and engagement to the Next Play experience, transforming predictions from a purely reactive process into a more competitive and dynamic game. Through iterative design and feedback-driven improvements, the boosters became a key feature that helped differentiate Next Play in the sports app market.
Key Takeaways
Designing for real-time engagement requires balancing speed, clarity, and fun.
Iteration based on team and user feedback was critical in making boosters successful.
By blending traditional UX practices with game design principles, I was able to create a feature that kept users invested longer and made the app more interactive.
