Kick-Off NI

What Kick Off NI is trying to solve

In Northern Ireland, one in five adults and one in eight children likely have a mental illness, with 70% of adults experiencing mental health issues in the past year. The current NI Mental Health Strategy alone is insufficient. Kick Off NI aims to address this by using friendly football games to unite communities, relieve stress, and enhance mental health.

Target Users

The design focuses on clean layouts, bold typography, and vibrant visuals to ensure a memorable user experience. Every element is carefully crafted to reflect professionalism and innovation.

Sprint Planning

During planning, we discussed technical constraints early, which helped me make informed design decisions and avoid costly revisions. We used user story mapping to break down complex flows into manageable tasks, ensuring designs were both user-centered and technically feasible.

Initial Research

Upon defining the target audience, I conducted discussions with potential users to gain insights into their pain points, goals, and needs.

I also collected quantitative data through surveys and community posts on platforms such as Twitter (now X), Reddit, and Facebook.

Exploration

I conducted extensive design exploration to generate multiple solutions before converging on the final approach. This phase involved sketching initial concepts, creating low-fidelity wireframes, and exploring different user flow variations to understand the problem space thoroughly.

I facilitated ideation sessions with the team using methods like "Crazy 8s" and affinity mapping to generate diverse ideas quickly. We explored solutions ranging from conservative improvements to more ambitious redesigns, evaluating each against our user research findings and business constraints.

Solution

I created a solution that includes features such as discovery, Community, schedule management, rewarding system and field booking

These features collectively enhance accessibility, social interaction, and motivation, promoting better mental health and well-being.

Gamification

Kick Off NI includes a rewarding system where users can earn discounts through booking a certain number of games and referrals. Users can also see the medals they have won, providing motivation and a sense of achievement to encourage continued participation.

Combating Loneliness

The community feature allows users to participate in discussions, join teams, post in feeds, and find new friends. This fosters social connections, helping to combat loneliness and build a supportive network for improved mental well-being.

Optimised Booking System

Users can search for and book free pitches, particularly for quick and last-minute games. This feature enhances accessibility and convenience, making it simpler for users to engage in physical activity.

Being Inclusive

I made sure to incorporate accessible features and pitch options for users with mobility challenges, including those using wheelchairs. This commitment ensures that individuals with physical disabilities can participate in friendly games and benefit from the program’s social and mental health support. By addressing these needs, Kick Off NI promotes inclusivity and enhances both physical and mental well-being for all participants.

Convenient Match Discovery

The discovery screen enables users to find matches across Northern Ireland based on preferences such as age group, number of players, gender, and location. This ensures that participants can easily find suitable games, promoting inclusivity and engagement.

Impact

• ​In the first six months post-launch, Kick Off NI facilitated over 500 match bookings, averaging approximately 84 matches per month. This robust engagement indicates a strong demand for accessible, friendly football games in Northern Ireland.

• Bookings for local sports facilities increased by 35% within six months, leading to 20% more repeat bookings and higher venue utilisation.

Takeaway

• Accessibility Matters: Ensuring that the product is accessible to all, including those with mobility challenges, is vital. My commitment to inclusivity not only broadened the product’s reach but also reinforced its impact on mental health for diverse users.

• Flexibility Enhances Participation: Providing features like convenient match discovery and field booking made it easier for users to engage with the product. I learned that flexibility and convenience are key to encouraging consistent participation.