App Va'a
The biggest sport in Polynesia, Outrigger Canoe or “Va’a”, is getting very popular in Brazil.
- App Va'a
- Product Design
Context and Problems
Designing the product from the ground up
Va’a is one of the most popular sports in Polynesia and has been growing in Brazil, but there was no dedicated digital product to support this community. This meant starting from zero. Not just designing screens, but defining what the product should be and how it should work.
Undefined user needs
With different types of users, from beginners to experienced athletes, it wasn’t clear what the core experience should prioritize or how to balance those needs.
Connecting teams and events
Choosing a team to join and finding in-person events are core to the sport, but bringing these into one clear experience required careful structuring.
Avoiding feature overload
Starting from zero made it easy to add too much. The challenge was deciding what not to include and keeping the experience focused and useful.
Challenge
How might we create a simple and intuitive experience that helps users get started with Va’a while also supporting more engaged athletes over time?
Approach
Structuring the core experience
I focused on defining a clear foundation by organizing the experience around key user actions: joining a team, tracking progress, and attending events. This helped connect different parts of the product into a more cohesive and predictable flow.
Design principles
The design focused on clarity over complexity. Each screen was built to guide the user toward a clear next step, whether that was joining a team, checking conditions, or tracking progress. I kept the interface lightweight and familiar, making it easy for users to move through the app without friction.
1. Clarity first
Every screen was designed to be easy to understand at a glance. I focused on reducing noise and making sure users always knew what to do next.
2. Action-oriented design
The experience was built around actions, not features. Whether joining a team or tracking progress, each screen leads to a clear next step.
3. Simple navigation
I structured the app so users could move naturally between key areas without having to think too much. The goal was to make the flow feel obvious.
4. Balanced for all levels
The design needed to work for both beginners and experienced athletes. I kept the experience simple enough for new users, while still supporting deeper use over time.
5. Real-world Interaction
The app was designed to support real actions outside the screen, like joining teams and attending events, making the experience feel connected to the sport itself.