# Interactive Fan Challenges > Creators can launch personalised challenges to interact closely with their super fans and reward them for participating. A case study from my time as the founding product designer at Backstage. Web page: https://www.karthiksivacharan.me/backstage/creating-participating-in-a-challenge Creators can launch personalised challenges to interact closely with their super fans and reward them for participating. Product Design · Backstage · Completed in 2 months · www.backstage.army Get the Backstage app: [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/backstage-join-your-tribe/id1569019928) · [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.creatorstack.commune&hl=en_US&gl=US) ## Overview ### Building the super app for creators to manage their super fans. Backstage is an exclusive app for creators to connect deeply with their audience, monetize their content, and grow their creative business. The company raised $2M in seed funding from Accel, OnDeck, and PointOne Capital. In this project, I worked on “Challenge” feature that enables creators to interact with a select group of their top fans by launching personalised challenges, and reward them for participating. - **Role:** Lead Designer – Research, Interaction Design, Prototyping, QA Testing, Project Management - **Team:** 2 Co-founders, 1 Product Manager, 3 Developers, 1 QA Engineer - **Timeline & Status:** 2 Months, Feature is live on the product ## Impact Metrics ### The product grew from 0 to 100k users with a total of 50k+ challenges launched to date. - **100k+** Total Users - **50k+** Challenges Launched - **30%** Engagement Time Increase ## Demo A short glimpse of the challenge creation and participation in the Backstage app. (video: https://www.karthiksivacharan.me/assets/videos/creating-participating-i-demo-oqMUCiC2NC.mp4) ## Problem Space ### Creators find it hard to host challenges & give fans an interactive experience, and reward them for participating. Using existing tools, creators find it hard to provide interactive experiences for their fans. After speaking to a set of creators, we realised that they want to host fun and interesting challenges within their community and also reward the fans for their participation. Some host challenges on Facebook, Discord, YouTube, etc., but want to provide their fans with a more interactive and gamified experience. ![Creators hosting challenges across social platforms](https://www.karthiksivacharan.me/assets/images/creating-participating-i-problem-space-FWqZaFvCLC-nobg.png) Content creators and their fans find it hard to form deeper relationships with each other. Creators want to move out of existing social platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, etc., and start using tools like Backstage, where they can establish more meaningful relationships with their fans. ## User Segment ### Backstage is designed to cater to both creators and their loyal fans. ![Backstage user segments diagram](https://www.karthiksivacharan.me/assets/images/creating-participating-i-user-segment-J937Fc6Jlm-nobg.png) ## Design Process ### A lean, ship fast, test and iterate approach. ![Backstage design process diagram](https://www.karthiksivacharan.me/assets/images/creating-participating-i-demo-ovUA8YaE0S-nobg.png) ## Solution: Creating a Challenge ### Creators can create and launch interactive challenges in a simple, fast and intuitive way. Video: [Creating a Challenge](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJtZ5LrGa2k) [Link to Figma Prototype](https://www.figma.com/proto/TIkFrtCPsOiLBD7GCiZpTr/Challenges---Creator-Side?page-id=1214%3A8404&type=design&node-id=1-4733&viewport=-436%2C100%2C0.26&t=hzQ7dxybZ8i2C2uU-1&scaling=scale-down&starting-point-node-id=1%3A4733&mode=design) (creating a Challenge) #### User flow: Creating a Challenge How does a Creator launch a new Challenge using the Backstage app? ![User flow: creating a Challenge](https://www.karthiksivacharan.me/assets/images/creating-participating-i-solution-creating-a-challenge-mQLDZy0KbS-nobg.png) ## Solution: Managing a Challenge ### Creators can manage challenges, view fan responses and reward fans for participating. Video: [Managing a Challenge](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2QK812r_J4) [Link to Figma Prototype](https://www.figma.com/proto/TIkFrtCPsOiLBD7GCiZpTr/Challenges---Creator-Side?page-id=1214%3A8404&type=design&node-id=90-716&viewport=-436%2C100%2C0.26&t=hzQ7dxybZ8i2C2uU-1&scaling=scale-down&starting-point-node-id=90%3A716&show-proto-sidebar=1&mode=design) (managing a Challenge) #### User flow: Managing a Challenge How does a Creator manage Challenge responses and reward winners? ![User flow: managing a Challenge](https://www.karthiksivacharan.me/assets/images/creating-participating-i-solution-managing-a-challenge-4hylrasWV4-nobg.png) ## Solution: Participating in a Challenge ### Fans can easily participate in challenges and win rewards for their effort. Video: [Participating in a Challenge](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0z-XNJMvjc) [Link to Figma Prototype](https://www.figma.com/proto/LklHu2yc1YJe4LFyfbPH0t/Challenges---Fan-Side?page-id=1208%3A8072&type=design&node-id=6-6226&viewport=1314%2C-1783%2C0.12&t=3FRwC65DSbrHQqWO-1&scaling=scale-down&starting-point-node-id=6%3A6226&mode=design) (participating in a Challenge) #### User flow: Participating in a Challenge How does a Fan participate in a Challenge and win rewards? ![User flow: participating in a Challenge](https://www.karthiksivacharan.me/assets/images/creating-participating-i-solution-participating-in-a-ch-kOPiRmxhId-nobg.png) ## Challenges Faced ### Working in a fast-paced, early-stage startup in a completely new domain was a challenging and enriching experience. - **👨‍💻 Solo Product Designer**: After the first few months, I was the sole product designer in the team, overseeing both product development and marketing efforts. - **🧭 Unexplored Problem Space**: Creator economy was a completely new space for me, and I had little understanding of the user segment. - **🙋‍♂️ Different User Segments**: I had to constantly switch context and design, considering that creators and their fans would have a different experience while using the product. - **❗ Feature Creep**: Because we were operating in a “ship fast and iterate” mindset with limited user understanding, I had to say no to many feature additions and enhancements. ## Learnings & Takeaways ### I loved working in a resource-constrained and ship-fast environment. - **🔎 Understanding the core motivation of users is crucial**: Doing user interview calls with creators and their fans made me realise that what people want and what they say they want might not always be the same. - **🧠 The smartest way to design is not to reinvent the wheel**: When designing a product in an unexplored space, the smartest and quickest way to design is to take inspiration from existing products that work. - **🙋‍♂️ Involving all the stakeholders at the start of the process is important**: While collaborating and working in small teams, I learned the value of gathering ideas and input from every team member right at the outset of the design process. - **❗ A good relationship with the PM & developers makes life easier**: Learning to speak the language of PM and developers and making adjustments to work with them towards a common goal made my job as a designer less stressful. ## The End Thank you for your time. Feel free to reach out if you have any feedback. --- ## Working on something and need a designer who can also build it? [Let’s talk](mailto:karthiksivacharan@gmail.com) · [Book a call](https://cal.com/ksivacharan) · [X](https://x.com/k_sivacharan) · [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karthik-sivacharan/) · [GitHub](https://github.com/Karthik-Sivacharan)