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JN

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Courtz App

INDUSTRY:

SPORTS APPLICATION

YEAR:

2025

the concept.

A staple pastime in NYC has long been going to play pickup Basketball. Whether it’s for fun or exercise, whether it’s alone, with friends, or in a league, there is a huge population that plays here. However, finding a court to play at isn’t always so simple. Courts can often be overcrowded, lack resources, inaccessible, and even too competitive for recreational players. This can lead to frustration, and prevent people from playing the game they love.

Courtz is a mobile app designed to help basketball players easily find and scout courts and organize games within their local community. Built around the fast, social nature of pickup basketball, the app streamlines everything from discovering nearby courts to managing events and coordinating with other players.

Role: End-to-end UX/UI Designer — led user research, problem definition, wireframing, high-fidelity design, and interactive prototyping in Figma.

Courtz is a mobile app designed to help basketball players easily find courts and organize games within their local community. Built around the fast, social nature of pickup basketball, the app streamlines everything from discovering nearby runs to managing events and coordinating with other players.

Designed for a new generation of players, Courtz emphasizes clarity, speed, and connection—creating an experience that feels intuitive, reliable, and rooted in the culture of the game. Every interaction, from navigation to visual identity, is crafted to reduce friction and keep users focused on playing, not planning.

Role: End-to-end UX/UI Designer — led user research, problem definition, wireframing, high-fidelity design, and interactive prototyping in Figma.

Courtz is a mobile app designed to help basketball players easily find courts and organize games within their local community. Built around the fast, social nature of pickup basketball, the app streamlines everything from discovering nearby runs to managing events and coordinating with other players.

Designed for a new generation of players, Courtz emphasizes clarity, speed, and connection—creating an experience that feels intuitive, reliable, and rooted in the culture of the game. Every interaction, from navigation to visual identity, is crafted to reduce friction and keep users focused on playing, not planning.

Role: End-to-end UX/UI Designer — led user research, problem definition, wireframing, high-fidelity design, and interactive prototyping in Figma.

Audience
Basketball players of all levels looking to find nearby courts, join pickup runs, and easily organize games with others in their community.

Attributes
Fast — Intuitive — Community-driven

Positioning
A modern basketball utility app that simplifies finding and organizing runs, built around the pace and culture of the game.

research.

To better understand how people find and play basketball, I conducted user interviews with three players of varying skill levels and distributed a survey that received 17 responses, gathering both qualitative and quantitative insights. The research focused on where and how users play, how they choose courts, common pain points, how they connect with others, and whether they’ve used existing apps to support these experiences.

Courtz is a mobile app designed to help basketball players easily find courts and organize games within their local community. Built around the fast, social nature of pickup basketball, the app streamlines everything from discovering nearby runs to managing events and coordinating with other players.

Designed for a new generation of players, Courtz emphasizes clarity, speed, and connection—creating an experience that feels intuitive, reliable, and rooted in the culture of the game. Every interaction, from navigation to visual identity, is crafted to reduce friction and keep users focused on playing, not planning.

Role: End-to-end UX/UI Designer — led user research, problem definition, wireframing, high-fidelity design, and interactive prototyping in Figma.

Courtz is a mobile app designed to help basketball players easily find courts and organize games within their local community. Built around the fast, social nature of pickup basketball, the app streamlines everything from discovering nearby runs to managing events and coordinating with other players.

Designed for a new generation of players, Courtz emphasizes clarity, speed, and connection—creating an experience that feels intuitive, reliable, and rooted in the culture of the game. Every interaction, from navigation to visual identity, is crafted to reduce friction and keep users focused on playing, not planning.

Role: End-to-end UX/UI Designer — led user research, problem definition, wireframing, high-fidelity design, and interactive prototyping in Figma.

Findings:

Location is key — players usually go to the closest court they already know, but availability and crowd level determine whether they can actually play.

Social but situational — most play with friends, and while pickup with strangers is common, it’s not always easy or desirable to join solo.

Clear gap in the market — users rely on maps or memory, but are open to a dedicated app that shows court conditions, saves favorites, and builds community.

Accuracy is critical — reliable, up-to-date information is the most important factor for trust and continued use.

personas.

design
systems.

information architecture
& user flow.

information
architecture
& user flow.

wireframes.

information
architecture
& user flow.

ui/ux prototype

information
architecture
& user flow.

Main Search & Discovery

Browse nearby courts by setting your location and applying filters that match your preferences. The interface quickly surfaces relevant options based on your inputs.

Messaging & Event Sharing

Connect with friends through a streamlined messaging interface. Easily create and send event invites directly within the chat.

Events Management

View, organize, and manage all your upcoming games in one place. You can also create new events directly from the events tab.

Saved Courts

Keep track of your favorite courts for quick access later. This tab makes it easy to revisit and choose from your saved spots.

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