PlayAction Pools
A sports pool platform with a new edge for running pools
Project overview
Quick Facts
Project Focus
Sports pool contest platform
Platform
Platform & App Development
Key Services
UI/UX, Branding, Business & Product Strategy
The challenge
The existing market for sports pool hosting was saturated with dated, feature-heavy platforms, creating overwhelming experiences. The goal was to build a clean, standard interface with simple, understandable features.
The solution
We acted as product consultants through branding and strategy, then designed and built the entire platform using an in-house React library for stability. The platform integrates real-time scores and features a simple contest creation process.
The results
The beta launch successfully surpassed its initial goals within days, onboarding 900 users and tracking 45,000 picks in a 24-hour period, underscoring strong market demand for a modern alternative.
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Project background
Purpose
The New Edge
PlayAction Pools is a sports pool hosting platform that makes it easy to create contests in minutes and invite friends and family along with all the management tools needed to keep your season running. We were approached early in the company formation and acted as product consultants through brand name ideation as well as product design and marketing strategy, before we ultimately designed and built the platform for our client. We set out to create a platform that relies on a clean and standard interface with simple to understand features to get users on the platform and continue returning.
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Making a brand as bold as its ambitions
Brand Strategy
A Name to Match
Our naming process produced dozens of names, culminating in “PlayAction Pool,” which captures the feeling of competition and movement. As we went through the naming process, we were conscious of the imagery that could easily be associated with it for a unique and ownable logotype.
Elements of Style
Building Blocks of a Brand
We chose a mostly dark aesthetic, as it needed to speak to a competitive and gaming personality as well as being functionally best for a high-content platform. The design needed to be bold and visually interesting to communicate the distinction it brings to the sport pool industry.
Quick look at what we did
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Building a platform for distinction and dependability
Laying the Groundwork
The Tech-Stack
We took the time to develop a React library in-house for a quicker and more stable setup for complex projects like this. It was a large project with many required systems, but with our virtual CTO services and in-house library as the framework, back-end logic, and integrations, we were able to build a polished beta release.
Integrating Data
Real-Time Scores
Arguably the entire platform hinged on the successful integration to receive real-time scores from Sportsdata.io for accurate scoring, standings, and earnings. We built the system to be reversible, allowing us to easily recalculate data for individual games or weeks in case of errors, ensuring extreme caution and future-proofing.
Dashboard
Keeping Players Up to Date
The dashboard serves as a frequent hub for users to easily monitor critical actions. It lists joined contests, tracks invitation statuses, and features key actions with deadlines, such as:
Paying fees- Setting picks
- Accepting invites
- Accepting applications
Quick look at what we did
Contest Creation
Designing the Interface
We identified necessary features from competitor research and distilled them into the simplest possible creation process. We introduced a range of unique game modes (pick 'em, survivor, gauntlet, and build your bankroll). We structured the steps to be streamlined for new users (with helpful hints) while still providing robust configuration options for veteran users.
Quick look at what we did
Invite and Join
Best of Both Worlds
Sharing a contest is critical for engagement. We designed the process to be intuitive and welcoming, offering multiple points of inviting (after creation, from the contest page) and flexibility in methods (URL, social media, and QR code). Upon joining, users see an introductory process detailing contest details and rules for both the participant and the creator.
Quick look at what we did
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Refreshing the pick sheet
The Goals
For a Better UI
The pick sheet is the most integral part of any sport pool platform. We prioritized the following goals for the redesign:
Easily digestible and clean interface, targeting both new and veteran players alike.- A tracker that would update with what is required vs. what picks have been made.
- Clear selection and easy updating with visual cues for team selection and pick locking.
- Use of an on-canvas panel for the most complex game mode, Build Your Bankroll, to track picks and wager amounts.
Quick look at what we did
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Statistics that show promise
Our Goals
For the Beta Release
Our initial goal was to onboard 500 users by the beginning of 2022. We quickly surpassed that goal and were well on the way to meeting our secondary goal of 100 contests created. The platform showed rapid growth and successful engagement:
onboarded users in first week
contests made in first week
picks in 24 hour time frame
The Numbers
From First Launch
From day one of release, we've been monitoring analytics and are happy to see the progress as the platform continues to gain exposure. Important milestones tracked include reaching 900 users onboarded by August 31st and reaching 45,000 picks in a 24-hour time frame by September 8th.
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Looking to the future of an up-and-coming platform
Next Up, Official Release
Bigger and Better Platform
Tackling a large platform means thorough planning in what features are absolutely needed for a successful minimum viable product. Now that our team and client have seen a successful beta launch, we're looking to keep improving for the official release. Next in our plan is to support college basketball with March Madness, the release of a native app, achievement awards, and subtle UX improvements as we receive feedback from onboarded users.
Project Background