The scope of work while contracted at Riot Games encompassed both UX and UI design for their E-sports division under the Valorant IP. The research, and design effort aimed to redefine the E-sports streaming experience with customization tool for competitive ‘Superstar’ gamers, ‘Superfans’ of particular teams, and “Newcomers’ to Valorant and e-sports in general.
Riot Games: Valorant
Viewing Experience
Born out of that strategic framing was a product opportunity for a modular framework that would allow varying audience segments to craft their personalized streaming experience. Hardcore Valiant players may want a first-person ride with whoever is playing a specific character or “agent” in a match; deeply invested e-sports ‘Superfans’ may want new ways to engage in chat and listen in on their favorite team’s comms; while ‘Newcomers’ may want play-by-plays of each match to learn strategies and comps. Due to the multi-tasking nature of the audience the base of the experience would have to work seamlessly across PC, tablet, and phone.
Despite being a gamer myself, I was unfamiliar with Valorant’s multiplayer and brand identity going into this. The bold typography and color, and the maximalist aesthetic provided a refreshing sandbox to play within visually. I took cues from the existing design system and in-game UI to really lean into the ‘gamification’ of the streaming experience and blur the line between UI and the game itself. There was an emphasis on the Chat functionality as well as rewards and unlocks tied to your Valorant account much like Twitch Drops.
