Missions & Events

Overview

As part of YouNow’s effort to introduce Pearls, a new in-app currency, I was tasked with designing a system that would help users earn and use Pearls through engaging, repeatable actions.

This project unfolded in two phases:

Phase 1: Missions introduced a lightweight daily reward system to build habits
Phase 2: Events added a platform-wide campaign layer to boost participation and excitement

These two features worked together to form a cohesive reward loop that motivated casual users to return, interact, and feel more involved in the community.

As part of YouNow’s effort to introduce Pearls, a new in-app currency, I was tasked with designing a system that would help users earn and use Pearls through engaging, repeatable actions.

This project unfolded in two phases:

Phase 1: Missions introduced a lightweight daily reward system to build habits
Phase 2: Events added a platform-wide campaign layer to boost participation and excitement

These two features worked together to form a cohesive reward loop that motivated casual users to return, interact, and feel more involved in the community.

Phase 1: Missions 🎯

Context 🔍

YouNow wanted to introduce Pearls gradually, starting with small daily challenges that encouraged consistent platform use. This was the first building block in giving users a clear reason to come back and engage without needing to stream or chat.

Context 🔍

YouNow wanted to introduce Pearls gradually, starting with small daily challenges that encouraged consistent platform use. This was the first building block in giving users a clear reason to come back and engage without needing to stream or chat.

MISSIONS

A few different categories of missions were created.

On achieving a mission,
userscan claim its’ reward.

A few different categories of missions were created.

On achieving a mission,
userscan claim its’ reward.

A few different categories of missions were created.

On achieving a mission,
userscan claim its’ reward.

Process🧪

We began by mapping common user actions like watching streams, chatting, and gifting, and identifying which behaviors could be rewarded without disrupting the app experience.

The goal was to make Missions:

Easy to understand at a glance
Visually satisfying when completed
Integrated with the new Pearl currency and game mechanics

We tested multiple flows and task structures to balance low friction with high payoff. Animations, progress indicators, and micro-interactions were added to make the feature feel alive and rewarding.

We began by mapping common user actions like watching streams, chatting, and gifting, and identifying which behaviors could be rewarded without disrupting the app experience.

The goal was to make Missions:

Easy to understand at a glance
Visually satisfying when completed
Integrated with the new Pearl currency and game mechanics

We tested multiple flows and task structures to balance low friction with high payoff. Animations, progress indicators, and micro-interactions were added to make the feature feel alive and rewarding.

9:41

New

Party

USA

9:41

Claim

Titles

Progress Bar

Reward

Claim

Titles

Progress Bar

Reward

Claim

Titles

Progress Bar

Reward

Reset Timer

9:41

Chat with 1 ...

9:41

Chat with 1 ...

Creator Tools

Missions

Claim

Titles

Progress Bar

Reward

Claim

Titles

Progress Bar

Reward

Claim

Titles

Progress Bar

Reward

Reset Timer

Home

Missions

Stream

Stream+Missions

Outcome ✅

Missions launched with strong adoption. Daily engagement increased, and many users began earning Pearls regularly, reinforcing the habit loop.

It also laid the foundation for future layers of the system and validated that users understood and valued Pearls.

Missions launched with strong adoption. Daily engagement increased, and many users began earning Pearls regularly, reinforcing the habit loop.

It also laid the foundation for future layers of the system and validated that users understood and valued Pearls.

Phase 2: Events 📆

Context 🔍

With the success of Missions, we moved into the second phase by designing Events, a feature that allowed users to participate in platform-wide challenges tied to specific themes, holidays, or moments. Events built on the same reward mechanics as Missions but introduced urgency, scale, and social energy.

Context 🔍

With the success of Missions, we moved into the second phase by designing Events, a feature that allowed users to participate in platform-wide challenges tied to specific themes, holidays, or moments. Events built on the same reward mechanics as Missions but introduced urgency, scale, and social energy.

Events

A new tab was added on the home page. A user education is created for first time users to be able to locate and understand this new feature.

Process🧪

I designed a centralized Events hub where users could view ongoing challenges, track their participation, and claim time-limited rewards.

Each Event had its own visual identity, but the structure remained familiar. Users would complete tasks, earn Pearls, and unlock bonuses. To keep things dynamic, I incorporated:

Countdown timers and limited-time windows
Progress meters for individuals and global community stats
Themed banners and lightweight visual storytelling

Testing revealed that even small cosmetic rewards, when tied to a countdown or exclusive campaign, led to meaningful spikes in engagement.

I designed a centralized Events hub where users could view ongoing challenges, track their participation, and claim time-limited rewards.

Each Event had its own visual identity, but the structure remained familiar. Users would complete tasks, earn Pearls, and unlock bonuses. To keep things dynamic, I incorporated:

Countdown timers and limited-time windows
Progress meters for individuals and global community stats
Themed banners and lightweight visual storytelling

Testing revealed that even small cosmetic rewards, when tied to a countdown or exclusive campaign, led to meaningful spikes in engagement.

9:41

New

Party

USA

Leaderboards

Info

Group

User’s current rank

Reset timer

Points/Time

Username

Points/Time

Username

Points/Time

Username

Points/Time

Username

9:41

New

Party

USA

Leaderboards

Info

Event Description

Event Requirements

Schedule

Join +

9:41

New

Party

USA

Join +

Start Date - End Date

Join +

Start Date - End Date

Join +

Start Date - End Date

Current Events

Past Events

9:41

New

Party

USA

Live

9:41

Chat with 1 ...

9:41

Chat with 1 ...

Creator Tools

Missions

Events

Join +

Start Date - End Date

Join +

Start Date - End Date

In-Stream Flow

Just like “Missions”, Events was added to the In-stream tools box, so users can track their progress without leaving their streams.

In-Stream event thumbnail, for quick access to event specific page

22:41:39

Usability Testing 🧭

I used the Maze platform to connect a functional prototype of the Events feature and share it with users for remote testing.

Results📊

Through the feedback gathered, we identified key pain points in the user journey. Most notably, the low discoverability of the Events tab from the home screen. These insights allowed us to adjust the layout and redesign a clearer, more accessible entry point into the feature.

To try check a copy of the usability test, click here

Outcome ✅

Events significantly boosted week-over-week engagement, especially when aligned with cultural moments or creator-led campaigns.

They gave Pearls more meaning, created community momentum, and turned user activity into a shared experience. The underlying system was modular and flexible, allowing the team to roll out new challenges easily without redesigning the experience each time.

Events significantly boosted week-over-week engagement, especially when aligned with cultural moments or creator-led campaigns.

They gave Pearls more meaning, created community momentum, and turned user activity into a shared experience. The underlying system was modular and flexible, allowing the team to roll out new challenges easily without redesigning the experience each time.

Conclusion 💡

Through the combined rollout of Missions and Events, we successfully introduced Pearls as a core part of YouNow’s in-app economy.

What began as a simple reward system evolved into a scalable framework for gamification, habit-building, and real-time community participation.

This project helped shift YouNow toward a more interactive and playful experience that gave viewers a way to actively take part, not just watch.

Through the combined rollout of Missions and Events, we successfully introduced Pearls as a core part of YouNow’s in-app economy.

What began as a simple reward system evolved into a scalable framework for gamification, habit-building, and real-time community participation.

This project helped shift YouNow toward a more interactive and playful experience that gave viewers a way to actively take part, not just watch.

To try Missions Prototype, click here

To try Events Prototype, click here

Missions & Events

Missions & Events

Overview

Overview

As part of YouNow’s effort to introduce Pearls, a new in-app currency, I was tasked with designing a system that would help users earn and use Pearls through engaging, repeatable actions. This project unfolded in two phases:

Phase 1: Missions introduced a lightweight daily reward system to build habits

Phase 2: Events added a platform-wide campaign layer to boost participation and excitement

These two features worked together to form a cohesive reward loop that motivated casual users to return, interact, and feel more involved in the community.

As part of YouNow’s effort to introduce Pearls, a new in-app currency, I was tasked with designing a system that would help users earn and use Pearls through engaging, repeatable actions. This project unfolded in two phases:

Phase 1: Missions introduced a lightweight daily reward system to build habits

Phase 2: Events added a platform-wide campaign layer to boost participation and excitement

These two features worked together to form a cohesive reward loop that motivated casual users to return, interact, and feel more involved in the community.

Phase 1: Missions 🎯

Phase 1: Missions 🎯

Context 🔍

YouNow wanted to introduce Pearls gradually, starting with small daily challenges that encouraged consistent platform use. This was the first building block in giving users a clear reason to come back and engage without needing to stream or chat.

Context 🔍

YouNow wanted to introduce Pearls gradually, starting with small daily challenges that encouraged consistent platform use. This was the first building block in giving users a clear reason to come back and engage without needing to stream or chat.

Process🧪

Process🧪

We began by mapping common user actions like watching streams, chatting, and gifting, and identifying which behaviors could be rewarded without disrupting the app experience.

The goal was to make Missions:

Easy to understand at a glance

Visually satisfying when completed

Integrated with the new Pearl currency and game mechanics

We tested multiple flows and task structures to balance low friction with high payoff. Animations, progress indicators, and micro-interactions were added to make the feature feel alive and rewarding.

We began by mapping common user actions like watching streams, chatting, and gifting, and identifying which behaviors could be rewarded without disrupting the app experience.

The goal was to make Missions:

Easy to understand at a glance

Visually satisfying when completed

Integrated with the new Pearl currency and game mechanics

We tested multiple flows and task structures to balance low friction with high payoff. Animations, progress indicators, and micro-interactions were added to make the feature feel alive and rewarding.

Outcome ✅

Outcome ✅

Missions launched with strong adoption. Daily engagement increased, and many users began earning Pearls regularly, reinforcing the habit loop.

It also laid the foundation for future layers of the system and validated that users understood and valued Pearls.

Missions launched with strong adoption. Daily engagement increased, and many users began earning Pearls regularly, reinforcing the habit loop.

It also laid the foundation for future layers of the system and validated that users understood and valued Pearls.

Phase 2: Events 📆

Phase 2: Events 📆

Context 🔍

Context 🔍

Process🧪

Process🧪

I designed a centralized Events hub where users could view ongoing challenges, track their participation, and claim time-limited rewards.

Each Event had its own visual identity, but the structure remained familiar. Users would complete tasks, earn Pearls, and unlock bonuses. To keep things dynamic, I incorporated:

Countdown timers and limited-time windows

Progress meters for individuals and global community stats

Themed banners and lightweight visual storytelling

Testing revealed that even small cosmetic rewards, when tied to a countdown or exclusive campaign, led to meaningful spikes in engagement.

I designed a centralized Events hub where users could view ongoing challenges, track their participation, and claim time-limited rewards.

Each Event had its own visual identity, but the structure remained familiar. Users would complete tasks, earn Pearls, and unlock bonuses. To keep things dynamic, I incorporated:

Countdown timers and limited-time windows

Progress meters for individuals and global community stats

Themed banners and lightweight visual storytelling

Testing revealed that even small cosmetic rewards, when tied to a countdown or exclusive campaign, led to meaningful spikes in engagement.

Usability Testing 🧭

Usability Testing 🧭

I used the Maze platform to connect a functional prototype of the Events feature and share it with users for remote testing.

I used the Maze platform to connect a functional prototype of the Events feature and share it with users for remote testing.

Results📊

Results📊

Through the feedback gathered, we identified key pain points in the user journey. Most notably, the low discoverability of the Events tab from the home screen. These insights allowed us to adjust the layout and redesign a clearer, more accessible entry point into the feature.

Through the feedback gathered, we identified key pain points in the user journey. Most notably, the low discoverability of the Events tab from the home screen. These insights allowed us to adjust the layout and redesign a clearer, more accessible entry point into the feature.

To try check a copy of the usability test, click here

Outcome ✅

Outcome ✅

Events significantly boosted week-over-week engagement, especially when aligned with cultural moments or creator-led campaigns.

They gave Pearls more meaning, created community momentum, and turned user activity into a shared experience. The underlying system was modular and flexible, allowing the team to roll out new challenges easily without redesigning the experience each time.

Events significantly boosted week-over-week engagement, especially when aligned with cultural moments or creator-led campaigns.

They gave Pearls more meaning, created community momentum, and turned user activity into a shared experience. The underlying system was modular and flexible, allowing the team to roll out new challenges easily without redesigning the experience each time.

Conclusion 💡

Conclusion 💡

Through the combined rollout of Missions and Events, we successfully introduced Pearls as a core part of YouNow’s in-app economy.

What began as a simple reward system evolved into a scalable framework for gamification, habit-building, and real-time community participation.

This project helped shift YouNow toward a more interactive and playful experience that gave viewers a way to actively take part, not just watch.

Through the combined rollout of Missions and Events, we successfully introduced Pearls as a core part of YouNow’s in-app economy.

What began as a simple reward system evolved into a scalable framework for gamification, habit-building, and real-time community participation.

This project helped shift YouNow toward a more interactive and playful experience that gave viewers a way to actively take part, not just watch.

To try Missions Prototype, click here

As part of YouNow’s effort to introduce Pearls, a new in-app currency, I was tasked with designing a system that would help users earn and use Pearls through engaging, repeatable actions.

This project unfolded in two phases:

As part of YouNow’s effort to introduce Pearls, a new in-app currency, I was tasked with designing a system that would help users earn and use Pearls through engaging, repeatable actions.

This project unfolded in two phases: