Fanatics Fantasy MMA

🧩 Context

Client: Fanatics Fantasy MMA
Platform: iOS & Android (Mobile App)
Role: Lead Product Designer
Team: Remote collaboration with stakeholders based in Asia

Fanatics Fantasy MMA is a mobile-first fantasy sports app built by and for passionate fans of mixed martial arts. I was selected to help bring the concept to life—working closely with a core group of MMA enthusiasts and entrepreneurs who wanted to build a fan-focused experience around live UFC events.

Core Skills: User Research, Design Systems, Prototyping, UI/UX Design

Tools: Figma, UserTesting.com, Google Chat

Get the Fanatics App

🚧 Challenge

The project was entirely remote, with stakeholders located across different time zones in Asia while I was based in the UK. This required careful coordination and clear communication to keep momentum going. The team had great ideas but needed guidance turning them into a structured, intuitive product. We also needed to define a strong UX foundation from scratch—balancing fantasy gameplay mechanics with the unique pace and structure of MMA events.

🎯 Goals

  • Define the MVP feature set for launch on both Android and iOS
  • Design a seamless experience for casual and hardcore MMA fans alike
  • Create a flexible, scalable design system for future updates
  • Prototype and validate interaction flows before handoff
  • Deliver a polished UI aligned with fan culture and UFC energy

🔍 Approach

  • Stakeholder Workshops: Conducted remote sessions to define goals, feature priorities, and user needs
  • User Personas: Built user profiles based on fantasy sports behavior and MMA fan motivations
  • Wireframes & Prototyping: Developed mid- to high-fidelity wireframes to map game flow and user interaction
  • User Testing: Ran early-stage tests to validate navigation and gameplay comprehension
  • Design System: Created a modular UI library to support feature growth post-launch
  • Final Designs: Delivered polished, platform-specific UI for both iOS and Android, optimized for App Store/Play Store review

âś… Outcome

The app delivered an engaging, mobile-first fantasy sports experience tailored specifically to MMA. Clear navigation, event-based scoring, and a fun visual identity helped it stand out in a space typically dominated by broader fantasy sports platforms. The structured UX and scalable component system laid the groundwork for ongoing development and future iterations.

đź’ˇ What I Learned

Working with passionate users who are also your stakeholders is a unique design opportunity—and challenge. My own interest in MMA helped bridge that gap and made the project especially enjoyable. The remote, cross-time-zone nature of the work reinforced the importance of async tools, detailed documentation, and proactive communication. Structuring the process clearly—from early wireframes to design handoff—was key to aligning everyone and shipping a product fans could get excited about.

If you’re looking for design support or think I’d be a great fit for a role I’d love to hear from you.