Project
Workflow
UX Research
Synthesis
UI/UX Design
My Role
UX Researcher
UI/UX Designer
Team
Solo Project
Timeline
5 weeks
Context
Patreon is a leading platform empowering creators to earn direct support from their fans. However, the platform’s current discovery experience is limited to a simple search bar, which restricts fans’ ability to explore the diverse range of creators available.
This project focused on increasing creator discoverability to boost patron engagement, expand support across genres, and ultimately drive creator satisfaction and platform growth. Designed for both new and existing patrons who enjoy discovering fresh talent, the goal was to create a seamless, engaging discovery experience that encourages fans to find and support creators they love—even if they don’t have specific names in mind.
This project was done as part of my UI/UX design bootcamp at Memorisely.
How might we make it easier for fans to discover creators they love on Patreon?
Solution
Personalized Patron Onboarding Flow
A smooth onboarding process collects data on patrons’ demographics and creative interests
Users can connect their social media accounts to quickly find and follow creators they already support
This fosters early, personalized content recommendations to enhance engagement from day one
Updating Design System & Visual Consistency
Revamped internal Patreon pages align with the landing page’s modern, vibrant aesthetic featuring bold colors and engaging gradients
Retained familiar elements to ensure usability while elevating the platform’s visual appeal
Enhanced Search and Discovery Experience
Replaced traditional pagination with infinite scroll to showcase a wider and more dynamic array of creators and products
Added product recommendations alongside creators to appeal to fans interested in exclusive merchandise or digital goods
Introduced rich filtering options and categorization, making it easier to explore niche interests
New Recents Tab Layout
Redesigned fan dashboard offers a lively, two-column tile layout displaying creator posts in reverse chronological order
Provides a sense of high activity and freshness, boosting user engagement
Users can toggle back to a single-column view for simplicity if preferred
Research
Platform Audit
A thorough audit of Patreon's internal site revealed that it prioritizes creators’ needs over patrons’, leading to discoverability challenges for fans. The stark contrast between the sleek interactive landing page and the sparse internal dashboard highlighted a fragmented user experience.
User Research Surveys
I put together a brief survey to understand the challenges that users currently face when trying to discover creators and engage with content they enjoy.
Results showed that fans expect algorithm-driven, personalized discovery similar to social media platforms. Many users hesitate to pay for continued support, but show strong interest in purchasing creator products.
Competitive Analysis
An analysis of Patreon's competitors like Kickstarter, Ko-fi, and Indiegogo showed their focus being heavy on patron support and project discovery. They offered richer, more patron-centric discovery flows.
I also drew inspiration from Pinterest’s onboarding process, which fills new users’ dashboards instantly with curated content, and YouTube’s cross-linking recommendation engine for content discovery.
Ideation & User Flows
Using mind maps and brainstorming sessions, I generated and ranked ideas to expand Patreon’s discovery capabilities. These were translated into low-fidelity wireframes depicting:
Onboarding flows tailored to fan interests
Robust search and filtering options
Dynamic dashboard layouts emphasizing fresh content
Final Design Features
Onboarding Experience
Engaging multi-step flow gathers fan preferences and social connections
Creates a personalized dashboard filled with relevant creators from the start
Revamped Search Page
Infinite scroll for continuous discovery without artificial limits
Visual presentation aligned with landing page style for brand consistency
Filter and subcategory options to navigate extensive creator and product lists
Suggested Creators & Content
After following creators, fans receive personalized suggestions for similar creators to explore, increasing stickiness
Fresh and Flexible Dashboard Layout
Two-column grid view presents an active, engaging feed with creative posts and links
Toggle option to switch to simpler single-column format for accessibility
Learnings
This project honed my visual design skills, especially in creating a sense of vast scale and abundance to captivate users. I balanced an interactive, vibrant aesthetic with clear usability principles, enhancing both delight and accessibility within the platform.
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