Timeline:
2.5 Weeks
Doors @ 8
Ever since Ticketmaster’s merger with LiveNation, their dynamic pricing, hidden fees, and scalpers galore are monopolistic practices that have resulted in horror stories from everyone I know that has been forced to use their platform.
Here is how my team developed a more user focused app to find, buy, and sell, tickets to local concerts and events.
Role:
UX/UI Design and Research
Tools:
Figma, Zoom, Toggl, Slack
Apps exist that offer sleeker, smarter, and a much more usable experience than Ticketmaster. So why does finding and purchasing tickets have to be such an infuriating experience?
Users stories were troubling: Tickets disappearing mid-purchase, prices double or tripling in mere moments and fees, fees, fees. People are beyond annoyed and frustrated. They want an avenue to connect to each other, and an easier way to find and enjoy new concerts and experiences.
The problem
Comp Analysis
Through extensive research and interviews, we landed on three main “How Might We…” questions became the foundation for building something that users wanted to use, not just feel compelled to use.
The process
Those questions were:
How might we make ticket buying feel less like a chore and more like part of the excitement?
How might we be radically transparent with no hidden fees, no surprises?
How might we make the process feel social, even before the event starts?
How Might We ?
What we needed to get right?
Using a MoSCoW method to prioritize features for our app. We determined that the most important features that our app needed to have were as follows:
Transparent pricing
No hidden fees, fine print, or surprises.
A smooth and intuitive purchase flow
Fast, clear, and straight-forward
Real-time ticket locking
The ticket in your cart belongs to you for a set amount of time.
Mobile first design
Buying tickets should work perfectly on the device you use the most.
Trusted resale
A secure way to resell tickets, free from scalpers.
Meet Cameron
The Persona
Cameron’s Problem Statement:
Cameron needs a better way to find and coordinate music and nightlife events with her friends, because using multiple apps makes the process disorganized.
We did not develop Doors @ 8 in a vacuum. It was developed for Cameron, a persona we created based on information gathered from extensive interviews with people venting their frustrations and expressing what they wanted to see from ticketing apps.
After developing a task flow for Cameron, we drew initial sketches to test layout ideas before moving into low-fidelity wireframes in Figma.
Each screen Cameron reached was designed to “Make Sense” on her journey -whether it was finding an event or coordinating her crew to get to the show.
The Design
Bringing it to life:
High-Fidelity
With the task flow solid, and foundational designs in place, Doors @ 8 took on its final form in High-Fidelity.
We created three screens that were most imperative to showing Cameron’s process.
Home screen -Discover without endless scrolling
Finding something fun should not feel like work. Therefore the home screen is tailored, visually engaging, and chaotic confusion is eliminated. Events are curated based on interests and location, with bold cards making it easy to browse, select, and purchase.
Chat and Ticket Sharing -Communication is key
Cameron can seamlessly plan and share events with her friends within the app. An internal chat allows her friends to stay connected, send ticket links, swap or split payments, and get confirmation of who is going to be enjoying the show with her.
Event Page -Details are important
The event page gives users everything they need to feel confident about attending: price, date, and vibe, as well as thoughtful details like whether the venue is outdoors, wheelchair accessible, or LGBTQ+ friendly. We designed this page with intention, not just information.
How did we do?
Doors @ 8 set out to make finding and buying tickets seamless and stress-free and we did just that.
We eliminated Cameron’s stress from variable pricing and hidden fees, delivering clear and consistent prices she can rely on. The chat feature allows her to coordinate, and share events and tickets with her friends making her experience safer and more enjoyable.
Doors @ 8 is about more than just finding a ticket. It is about giving Cameron, and so many like her, consistency and peace of mind.
Less hassle. More fun.