CNN Games
Take a break and unwind with CNN Games
Overview
Digital games are a strategic asset for publishers seeking to increase user engagement and time spent on site while diversifying revenue streams. They provide a dynamic form of content that can attract and retain a diverse audience. From a user perspective, games offer a fresh way to engage with news content, providing both convenience and relaxation.
CNN Games is currently in Beta. As the UX design lead, I partnered cross-functionally with content design, visual design, design systems, product, engineering, marketing, and editorial teams to create this experience. I prototyped and specced the Games homepage, including interactive cards users can browse, the gameplay page layouts, and the overall user journey. A third party vendor provides the games themselves. Please reach out for more information about my process and specifics.
Role
Sole Design Lead
Timeline
2024
Try it out (BETA) →
CNN Games
Promo asset created in collaboration with visual designer, Kelly Flynn
Design Values
How I approached this
Games should be fun!
Brand consistency
Prioritizing scalability
While Games is a strategic endeavor, I led with the ideal that games should be fun. Fun can take the form of vibrant colors, playful interactions, and lighter content.
However, while games should be fun, designing for a news organization necessitates a level of care for trustworthiness and responsibility. I sought to ensure Games aligned with CNN's brand identity and overall journalistic environment.
Building lean for an MVP version, I focused on creating a system that could be expanded and iterated upon in future efforts.
Prototype
Browse and play CNN Games
Prototype navigating from Home to Games, then to a version of Sudoku that I designed.