PC gaming with a couch experience

About

UNU is an innovative video game library and launcher that consolidates PC games from top platforms, delivering a seamless gaming experience. With support for controllers, it transforms the gaming experience into a cozy couch setting, perfect for big screens. Gamers can enjoy their favorite titles without hassle, making it easier to access and play their entire library in one place.

Responsibilities

Co-Founder, Product Design, Motion Design, Brand Strategy and Identity, 3D, Front-end

Tools

Figma, Ps, Ai, Ae, Blender, Visual Studio
Period: 2020 - 2022

Challenge

After a long day at work, gamers often seek a way to unwind on the couch without the hassle of sitting back at a desk. They want to enjoy their PC games on the big screen, yet with numerous launchers available, no single solution effectively synchronizes them. Gamers frequently find themselves juggling between different platforms to access and manage their game libraries, leading to a fragmented experience.

Solution

The solution features a Windows® platform designed with a retro-futuristic aesthetic, capturing the nostalgic arcade feel of the '80s while seamlessly integrating the modern functionalities of next-gen consoles. This unique blend creates an inviting and familiar environment for gamers, enhancing their experience and making it easy to enjoy their favorite PC games from the comfort of their couch.

Process

From gamers to gamers

Trying to understand how we wanted to start with the project, my friend and software engineer, Junior Carvalho, have decided to utilise a non-linear design process. Validating assumptions and gather meaningful insights would help us find flexibility while exploring user perspectives, iterate, and refine our strategies based on current user needs and experiences.

Emphatise

Who are the users?
What frustrates them while navigating through their games libraries?
What are their expectations?

Conceptualize

Gathered requirements and initial ideas
Documented research outcomes
Storyboard tasks and persona
Features definition

Design

User-flows
Prototypes
UI Design
Implementation

1. Empathise

Conducted in-depth research on gaming experiences.

Brainstorming

Junior and I have been avid gamers for over two decades. We shared our frustrations and identified our needs, which sparked the exploration of new ideas.

Market Analysis

I conducted a competitor analysis and heuristic evaluation of platforms like Playnite, Steam Big Picture, Origin, and Epic Games to assess their strengths and weaknesses.

Main aspects and discoveries

After gathering and analyzing the research data, we organized it into three key problem statements that highlight the main challenges faced by users in the gaming experience.

A way to sync games using launchers and SteamDB's API.
How to retrieve data from game titles.
How to effectively navigate and interact using a gamepad, drawing inspiration from user-friendly interfaces like Netflix.

2. Conceptualise

Developed a strategy by identifying user personas, aligning content, and organising resources effectively.

Established a backlog to track ideas, requirements, and features effectively.

We identified the most complex features to prioritize our workflow. While Junior concentrated on API integrations, I defined our user persona, explored user flows, and prototyped interactions for TV testing.

Branding and Product Design Strategy

We finalized our naming process with "UNU," a palindrome derived from "Single" and "One," reflecting the Latin terms "Una" and "Unus." On the product side, we focused on synchronizing user accounts and games from popular platforms into the UNU library, allowing players to manage and play their games seamlessly through the UNU user interface.

Persona Overview

Johnny V, 28

As a PC gamer, I want to access all my games in one place, allowing me to easily navigate and play them on a big screen.

Have all my games in one place
Install, launch and close games without the need of a mouse and/or keyboard
I don’t want to open game launchers before jumping into the game.

Design highlights

Tested different ways to implement gamepad navigation to avoid breaking the layout and eliminate frustrations.
A/B testing facilitated layout and interaction decisions.
UI focused on game posters and navigation to help users locate primary features.

Conclusion

Engaging with a side project that aligns with my daily passion invigorates my creativity and fuels my curiosity about human interaction. It allows me to continuously explore new ideas and deepen my understanding of diverse user experiences.

Steam and Epic Games

Gamepad support ready

What have I learned?

Designed web applications optimised for large screens.
Implemented flexible layouts and intuitive navigation suited for expansive viewports.
Addressed accessibility and user interactions tailored to gamepad functionality and the surrounding environment.

Jefferson Silva

Creative Director