THE CHALLENGER
Solana University’s Competitions and Learning Platform
Problem
The Challenger is a project managed by the Solana Foundation, designed to engage and educate event participants. It includes competitive elements, enabling you to compete for prizes by completing various challenges. During its early development stages, my primary focus for The Challenger was to enhance the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX), refresh the visual aesthetics, and introduce new features to the platform.
Solution
To achieve this, I conducted thorough research that helped me create well-informed design solutions, outline essential project objectives, identify users' needs, and incorporate features that would offer them a powerful tool for learning and participating in competitions.
Branding
The Challenger is managed by the Solana Foundation, so I aimed to design a unique visual style, taking inspiration from the established Solana Foundation visual identity. I used a simple typeface, a clean layout, and plenty of white space to create a seamless and user-friendly solution. For the color palette, I incorporated Solana University's brand colors and added orange to represent challenges. I also used three-dimensional renders in a 'liquid metal' style, which is a common element in Solana's designs, to symbolize qualities like strength, dynamism, and adaptability.
Logotype
The logo is inspired by the spirit of determination and the drive to conquer challenges. I created a logo representing the platform as a center for individuals striving to push their limits and break through barriers. The design element I chose is fire flames, symbolizing both the intensity of challenges and the passion of those willing to face them head-on. The color palette includes shades of orange and violet, with a gradient effect to give depth and dimension to the flames. Within the arrangement of flames, I've strategically hidden the initials of Solana University's name ('S' and 'U'). I subtly shaped the curves and angles of the flames to form these letters. This hidden element adds an element of discovery for viewers, inviting them to take a closer look at the logo.
Information Architecture
User Journey Map
Home Page
I've created a homepage showcasing all the platform's features and providing content previews like ongoing competitions, challenges, leaderboards, and events. I've used three-dimensional renders in a 'liquid metal' style to capture the excitement of challenges and competition, symbolizing strength, dynamism, and adaptability. Each section on the homepage includes a call-to-action button that guides users to other pages on the platform.
Challenges Page
I introduced a new feature called 'Daily Challenge' to motivate users to visit the platform daily and earn experience points. I used color coding, a clean layout, and plenty of white space to make the challenge page user-friendly. I've also added a 'Share' button to allow users to share challenges quickly, and for logged-in users, there's a challenge status feature to help track their progress. I've implemented search, filtering, and sorting options to simplify navigating challenges. Additionally, I've created a table view layout for quick scrolling through challenges.
