Upcomer

A digital platform that simplifies following eSports by providing all the latest news, games, media, and tournament updates in one convenient place.

  • Services Provided

    User Experience (UX)

    User Interface (UI)

    Project Management

    Content Architecture

    Web Design

    Motion Design

  • Platform(s)

    Website

    Web App

    Mobile App

  • Industry

    eSports / Media

    • Overview

    Enthusiast Gaming (TSE: EGLX) came to me seeking a complete overhaul of their user experience for Upcomer, both on web and mobile.

    The goal was to transform Upcomer from a simple eSports news blog into an all-encompassing eSports hub, while addressing existing design inconsistencies and user feedback.

    As the project’s Art Director, I worked closely with Upcomer’s product manager, Niero Gonzalez (founder of Destructoid), to lead a team of 3 designers and multiple developers in a complete design refresh across both the web platform and mobile app.

    We tackled design inconsistencies by creating a unified design language, optimizing navigation, and introducing community-driven features like match reactions and personalized feeds.

    Within the first 8 days of launching the revamped Upcomer platform, we smashed viewership records, surpassing 1.1 million pageviews.

    The Challenge

    At the time I joined, Upcomer was already receiving thousands of visitors on a daily basis as per Google Analytics and Amplitude.

    Despite the platform’s strong daily traffic, Upcomer was struggling with user engagement and retention.

    The product team identified several areas where users were encountering friction, leading to higher bounce rates. Industry benchmarks show that poor UX can result in a 35% increase in bounce rates, with users abandoning apps that feel cluttered or hard to navigate.

    Key pain points included a lack of personalization, inconsistent navigation across platforms, and an underdeveloped sense of community within the app. As the platform grew, so did the complexity of content formats, making the UX feel fragmented.

    Boosting Engagement & User Stickiness

    As the Art Director, I worked closely with Upcomer’s product manager, Niero Gonzalez (founder of Destructoid), to lead a team of 3 designers and multiple developers in a complete design refresh across both the web platform and mobile app.

    We tackled design inconsistencies by creating a unified design language, optimizing navigation, and introducing community-driven features like match reactions and personalized feeds.

    Creating a Sense of Personalization & Curation

    Personalization and curation is something we wanted for the users. Our focus was on creating a gentle, intuitive experience that would drive engagement and retention.
    Through several new user flows, users were able to curate their entire feeds to only show the games, players, and teams they were interested in.
    Leveraging my UX expertise, I introduced a custom “game context selector” that empowered users to personalize their content based on their interests, all while ensuring effortless switching between filters and views.

    Responsiveness Across Desktop & Mobile Devices

    Our responsive design overhaul led to a consistent and enjoyable experience across both desktop and mobile, driving retention and solidifying Upcomer’s position as a leader in the eSports space.
    Within the first 8 days of launching the revamped Upcomer platform, we smashed viewership records, surpassing 1.1 million pageviews. This not only set a new benchmark for Upcomer, but also placed it among the top-performing properties within Enthusiast Gaming’s network.