Begi Talai Portfolio

Chess.com

Lichess

Chessable

Internet Chess Club

Background

As a chess enthusiast, I tried to identify a gap in the online chess community: while many platforms offer basic gameplay, few prioritize a seamless, visually appealing user experience as well as accessibility that enhances learning and enjoyment for everyone. Inspired by my own journey of mastering chess and my experiences with various online platforms as well as understanding other users' frustration points, I envisioned BAICHESS.COM as a place where users could not only play but also involve themselves in the rich culture and strategy of chess.

Challenges

I faced several challenges, including balancing the needs of beginners and advanced players, offering customization options without complicating the interface, ensuring accessibility, and integrating learning resources seamlessly into the platform.

What I Accomplished

I designed an intuitive, responsive, and accessible platform that meets the needs of diverse users. BAICHESS.COM now offers a seamless chess experience with customizable features and integrated learning tools, all within a clean and user-centered design.

This project was a great opportunity to design something that truly made a difference for users stepping into the tech world.

Type

End to End Application

Role

Research & UX/UI

Timeline

6 weeks

01 RESEARCH 01 RESEARCH 01 RESEARCH 01 RESEARCH 01 RESEARCH 01 RESEARCH 01 RESEARCH

Community Growth

Create a strong community of chess players.

Continuous Improvement

Regularly update the platform based on user feedback.

Inclusivity

Make the platform accessible to users of all skill levels and backgrounds.

Sustainability

Develop a sustainable business model that supports continuous improvement of the platform.

Learn Chess/Improve Skills

Provide resources and tools for beginners to learn how to play chess. Offer advanced tutorials, challenges, and analysis for experienced players to improve their skills.

Enjoyment

Make sure the platform is fun and enjoyable, making users want to come back regularly.

Community Interaction

Create opportunities for users to interact, compete, and share experiences with other chess players.

Accessibility

Provide features that make the platform accessible to users with various needs and preferences.

Increase User Base

Attract more users to the platform.

Boost Engagement

Encourage users to spend more time on the platform.

Monetization

Generate revenue through subscriptions and premium features.

Brand Loyalty

Build a loyal user community that regularly uses the platform.

Market Position

Establish the platform as a leading online chess resource.

Business Goals

Common Goals

User Goals

Project Goals

Competitive Analysis

Key Takeaways

User Interviews | Chess Web

02 DEFINE 02 DEFINE 02 DEFINE 02 DEFINE 02 DEFINE 02 DEFINE 02 DEFINE 02 DEFINE

03 DESIGN 03 DESIGN 03 DESIGN 03 DESIGN 03 DESIGN 03 DESIGN 03 DESIGN 03 DESIGN

04 UI & BRANDING 04 UI & BRANDING 04 UI & BRANDING 04 UI & BRANDING 04 UI & BRANDING 04 UI & BRANDING

05 FINAL 05 FINAL 05 FINAL 05 FINAL 05 FINAL 05 FINAL 05 FINAL 05 FINAL 05 FINAL

Usability Testing Results

Low-Fidelity Wireframes

User Personas

Affinity Map

ADI

DevOps engineer | Beginner

User challenge:

The requirement to sign up/log in prior to playing chess in order to get points is frustrating.

ALTYNAI

College Student | Beginner

User challenge:

Not enough motivation to keep learning chess online.

KANA

College Student | Intermediate

User challenge:

Time commitment to learn new gambit strategies.

ARGO

Software Engineer | Advanced

User challenge:

People using stock-fish (a free and open-source chess engine).

Participants might be demotivated by complex interfaces and a lack of clear guidance, which could hinder their learning process.

Frustrations with features like the location of the time clock during play and chat notifications that aren't easily accessible.

The need to design an intuitive, user-friendly interface that addresses the pain points identified by participants.

Emphasis on making learning easier and more engaging through the design of the chess web.

Users prefer a clean & minimalist layout that enhances the clarity of the chess board.

A clean design helps to focus and better concentrate during gameplay, improving the overall user experience.

Users want to utilize learning resources such as tutorials, lessons, and puzzles to improve their chess skills.

Some users may express interest in a chess gambling feature, allowing them to wager money on the outcome of chess games for added excitement. Introducing a gambling feature could attract niche users interested in competitive gaming.

Desire for Clear, Minimalist Layout

Improve Learning Resources

Potentially add a chess gambling feature

Point of View

Customizing The Interface

User Flows

Observation: Some users struggled to locate secondary features such as the "Settings" and "Help" section.

Recommendation: Revisit and refine labels and icons to ensure they are easily understood by all users.

Observation: The lack of an option to save customizations when settings were reset upon reloading the page.

Recommendation: Include a save button for users custom preferences.

Observation: Some users noted that the layout of the "Learn" section was overwhelming, with too many options presented at once.

Recommendation: Reorganize the "Learn" section.

Observation: Users found it easy to join and participate in community discussions.

Recommendation: Enhance the community section with better search and filter options.

Observation: Overall, users were satisfied with the BAICHESS platform, particularly praising its clean design and functionality. However, they identified specific areas where improvements could enhance their experience.

Navigation

Learning Resources

Overall User Experience

Customization Features

Community Features

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