Ski racing
Mobile app • Sports
Project Overview
I lead the design of the USSA x Ski Racing mobile app that was developed by Rocketmade.
Challenges
Both organizations came into the project with distinct priorities:
– USSA wanted an efficient way to deliver schedules, results, and standings to athletes, coaches, and insiders
– SkiRacing.com wanted to expand their editorial reach, publishing news, athlete stories, photo galleries, and videos to engage a global audience.
The design challenge was to merge utility with storytelling, building a product that was fast and reliable on race day, but also compelling enough to keep fans coming back.
My Role
Acting as the project design lead, my responsibilities spanned from initial concept development to overseeing the final product delivery.
– Driving the initial concept development and defining user experience goals.
– Facilitating discovery workshops and aligning stakeholders from USSA and SkiRacing.
– Creating wireframes, prototypes, and visual designs to validate and refine user flows.
– Leading usability testing to ensure clarity across age groups and technical abilities.
– Collaborating closely with the development team through design handoff, QA, and iteration.
– Establishing a cohesive design system that merged competitive data with editorial storytelling.
Outcomes
The app successfully launched in time for the World Cup season, immediately driving a surge of downloads as fans looked for real-time results and news.
Usage peaked during major race weekends, with thousands of active users checking standings, schedules, and athlete updates in real time.
Outside of competition, the app maintained steady engagement through editorial content and athlete stories.
Introduction
I led the design of a new mobile app for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association and SkiRacing.com, created to connect fans, athletes, and teams through a single digital platform.
Project kick-off
Ski Racing and USSA came to Rocketmade with a core concept and an early outline of the app’s functionality. Our team’s first step was to run collaborative workshops, where we mapped out the distinct needs of both organizations and aligned them into a shared vision.
From there, we built a detailed roadmap with clear milestones and responsibilities across design and development. As design lead, I focused on keeping strategy tied to our core goal: merging live race data with engaging editorial content.
Regular check-ins with stakeholders and the team ensured alignment, surfaced issues early, and established the foundation for a smooth build and successful launch.
Ski Racing News
Rather than settling for a flat logo, I used Spline 3D to create motion-ready logo variations that echoed the futuristic vibe of the product. These assets were reused in the mobile app and even in some of the AR overlays - letting the branding evolve alongside the product experience.
Ski Racing Galleries
Ski racing galleries offer a visual treat for fans. High-quality images from races and events can be viewed and shared directly on the app. This feature not only enhances user engagement but also presents an immersive experience.
Ski Racing Athletes
This feature offers users detailed profiles of athletes, complete with bios and statistics. It allows fans to track their favorite athletes’ progress and learn more about their careers. Furthermore, it keeps users up to date with the latest events in the ski racing calendar, ensuring users never miss a race. This comprehensive database is a valuable resource for athletes, coaches and fans alike, cementing the USSA x Ski Racing app's place as an indispensable tool in the ski racing community.
Live Events
The app's primary feature is live race tracking, allowing users to follow races in real-time. This comprehensive tracking includes updates on the racers' positions, timings, and race progress. This real-time functionality has not only streamlined communication but also amplified fan engagement, transforming the ski racing experience altogether.
Conclusion
The USSA × Ski Racing app became a central hub for the ski racing community, uniting live competition data with editorial storytelling in a way that hadn’t existed before. By overcoming technical challenges like real-time tracking in remote locations and balancing the priorities of two distinct organizations, we delivered a product that both athletes and fans could rely on. Positive feedback from users and stakeholders reinforced the value of our collaborative process, making the app not just a digital tool, but a new standard for how technology can connect a sport’s ecosystem.
