An app that brings streamers together.
FAQ’s
What role did I play?
Sole UX Designer & Researcher
What strategies were used?
User Research
Prototyping
How much time spent?
January 2023 - March 2023
What tools were used?
Figma
Adobe Photoshop
What is Krit?
An app that creators can create/stream content and share it with the world through social media.
Being a former creator that used to stream to others online through Twitch, I never really got many viewers or even really got popular. I always questioned to myself, “Why am I not getting more popular?” “Should I stream more popular games?” The answer is that main stream social media platforms have an algorithm that people have to abide by in order to get any ounce of fame.
This inspired me to create an app, Krit which:
Help Creators Get Accessible Screen Time/Recognition
Focus on Connecting Streamers with Similar Interests
Avoid Liking/Following System to Reduce Social Media Insecurities
Problem
Algorithms, which doesn’t allow creators to meet each other and share ideas without worrying about follow counts or trying to get famous.
Starting out as a small creator on Twitch or social media can be tough. Many struggle with low viewership and feel pressured to play popular games, engage with an empty chat, and stick to strict schedules to grow their connections. This can make it hard for them to reach viewers and share their ideas
95% of streamers on Twitch average 0-5 concurrent viewers per stream.Challenge
How do we foster a community of content creators with the goal of creating genuine friendships and not trying to get famous?
Here’s how I change that: —>
Research Time!
Starting the Research Phase
I began my journey into researching the streaming and social media industry to understand why people want to grow their profile in the content creation industry and why it was such a bigger deal rather than wanting to create a community and friendships.
Through my research, I wanted to:
Understand why its currently difficult to grow an online platform
Understand why most people don’t get super popular by themselves
Prove that it’s important to work with peers to grow your understanding of the whole streaming process
Prove that content creation is easier and more fun with friends
Identify Krit’s competitors (pros and cons)
Identify target audience’s trends in the content creation industry
User’s Perspective
As a fellow content creator, I know that it can get lonely and is really hard to stay motivated and consistent when trying to welcome yourself into the streaming community. Talking to other creators/influencers about this topic really helped me gain a more understanding about the streaming and social media industry and the algorithm behind it.
One of them stated, “I always wondered why I couldn’t get people to watch me, I was lucky that I met some really nice people through social media, and we started to stream that way.”
Liking/Following Algorithm
Many dream of online fame but don't want to make personal sacrifices. That's why I created Krit— an app that offers recognition without needing millions of 'likes' or 'followers.' Krit's lack of a liking/following system reduces pressure on creators to chase popularity, letting them focus on content they're passionate about. It offers a refreshing, less toxic social media experience, connecting individuals with shared interests and values.
Screen Time
Getting recognized on screen can motivate users, but too much focus on screen time and recognition can lead to prioritizing quantity over quality, resulting in a less enjoyable experience. Users seek screen time recognition for a sense of accomplishment and validation, boosting self-esteem and motivation. It increases engagement and satisfaction by showing their contributions are valued. Social recognition also motivates users to create better content, improving overall quality.
A streamer I interviewed stated, "As a streamer, getting on screen is a big deal. On Twitch, only my followers see me in a small part of the browser, so when I'm featured or noticed, it's a huge motivator to keep creating and sharing."
1/3 Rule in Content Creation:
A good rule of thumb is to have 1/3 of your friends a level below you so you can teach them, and 1/3 of your friends above you so you can learn from their teaching.
Competitive Analysis
As Krit competes in the crowded streaming market, it's important to analyze its competitors to identify strengths, weaknesses, and potential areas for growth and differentiation. compared Krit to other streaming services and platforms with similar features, target audiences, and business models such as: LinkedIn, Twitch, Youtube Gaming, and Tiktok.
Discoveries:
Competitors prioritize engaging viewers over helping creators connect.
Competitor apps often have cluttered homepages, making navigation challenging.
Krit's design aims to connect creators with like-minded individuals and prioritize user preferences.
Interviews
During my research, I conducted interviews with three small streamers/content creators to learn about their experiences within the streaming community and their overall comfort level with the platform. In addition, I asked questions pertaining to their goals, desires, frustrations, aesthetics, and potential interest in using this app. From these interviews, I gathered valuable insights and discovered that:
100% of interviewees preferred a simple interface
75% of interviewees stated that they feel lonely when streaming
100% of interviewees preferred not having a like/following system
100% of interviewees liked the idea of “Kritter Spotlight”
All 3 of them thought positively about my app idea and was really interested to see if this would progress in the future. They all had similar goals and desires, which was wanted to meet new people to stream with and want to create bonds and form communities.
One thought that stood out to me was,
“I find it inspiring that Krit prioritizes the user's interests and values instead of viewing them as just a number.”
Persona Development
After thorough research and interviews, I created a persona named Alex to represent Krit's target users. They want to stream content for fun and connect with like-minded people. Alex embodies the frustrations, motivations, and goals of our ideal user, based on the data and insights I gathered.
The Design of Krit!
Task Flow
I designed Krit during my university's visual design course. After researching and creating a persona, I made a simple task flow for users to create an account, customize it, and start streaming on Krit. While there are many paths users can take in Krit due to its various screens, this task demonstrates how user-friendly it is for beginners.
Screen Design Insight
I wanted to create a simple interface with my design so beginners can have an easy and stress-free sign in/login process. I created a variety of screens which included the start up process screens (flash screen, login/signup screen, etc.), home page navigation, a setting page, messaging navigation, a user profile and a profile of another user from the main user’s perspective, connection page, and a live stream page.
♡ Onboarding Process ♡
Sign-up example page
Login example page
Key Features
Home Screen:
Favorited streamers feature here
Daily Game/Popular streaming categories
3 creators get screen time for 24 hours
Explore your options!
Featured genre example page
Connections/Messages:
Shows all connections
Shortcut Messaging Option
Simple Messaging Interface
Make friends!
Make it yours.
User Profile:
All your socials listed
Customizable Bio/pronouns
Connections button
Featured Clips section
Posts section
Livestream Page:
Mobile Livestream Software
Simple Video Interface
Livestream setup settings
Go live button
Flip Camera Option
Stream Anywhere!
Style Guide
To make sure the colors and icons stay consistent throughout the app, I created a style guide for Krit.
Reflection
Things I would’ve done differently:
I would’ve conducted more interviews with different varieties of streamers not just gaming ones. I would’ve enjoyed their insight on something like Krit.
I would’ve liked to research a little bit more about the competitors of my app, to get more insight about features and how users would interact with Krit.
Learnings:
User research for an app like this was difficult, but I ended up getting a lot of valuable information that supports my prototype even if I created the designs before the research aspect.
Doing a solo project as big as this one was really an eye opener to me. I really enjoyed creating something that people were actually interested in becoming a reality!