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My achievements

at

Globant

  • Mobile-First User Experience

  • Balancing Legacy Assets with Mobile UX/UI

  • Balancing Legacy Assets with Mobile UX/UI

  • Cross-Functional Collaboration at Globant

What I learnt

Bridging the Generational Gap

While working at Globant for a major casino/entertainment client, I encountered a unique challenge – stakeholders from an older generation. Earning their trust and effectively communicating technical concepts required a tailored approach.

Overcoming Technical Limitations

The project also presented limitations with HTML5 web browsers, hindering sound effects and interactivity. Balancing these limitations with client expectations was a continuous process of iteration and refinement.

Optimising Workflow

Successfully porting these games from five screens to one involved extensive experience and problem-solving skills. Despite the presence of an excellent project manager and scrum masters, ensuring my creative vision aligned with development speed was another hurdle. Ultimately, collaboration and perseverance led to a successful outcome.

Are you interested? Keep reading below!

About

Globant

My experience there:

2013

Category

Entertainment

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Upon joining Globant, I was recruited as a Game Designer, Producer (and UX) for a project with Bally Technologies, a leading slot machine manufacturer in the United States. In this role, I played a key part in the digital transformation of several multi-screen physical slot machines. These machines, originally multi-screen games, were transformed into streamlined single-screen mobile web versions utilising HTML5 technology.

Games often share core mechanics, but also offer unique player-activated abilities. My focus was on bridging this gap, creating clear communication that facilitated intuitive understanding of these special moves.

My performance was instrumental in the successful delivery of this project. This achievement was recognised by Globant, resulting in a well-deserved promotion to Product Champion within just one year.

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Client net income increase

Client net income increase

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Teams collaboration

Teams collaboration

UX Research

UX Research

While working on the digital transformation of Bally Technologies' slot machines at Globant, I encountered unique challenges due to the pre-defined user persona established by their team. Here's how I navigated these challenges to ensure a successful mobile experience:

Mobile-First User Experience

The existing user persona, created by Bally's team, provided a strong foundation. However, it needed to be adapted for the limitations and specificities of mobile devices. This involved:

  • Optimizing Button Sizes: Standard button sizes from the physical machines wouldn't translate well to mobile screens. I ensured buttons were large enough for easy tapping by all users.

  • Streamlining Screen Flow: The multi-screen experience of the physical slots needed to be condensed into a clear and intuitive single-screen flow for mobile. I redesigned the flow to ensure smooth navigation and maintain player engagement.

  • Preserving Gameplay Mechanics: Converting complex multi-screen mechanics into a single screen presented a challenge. I prioritized clarity and user understanding by simplifying the mechanics while retaining the core gameplay experience.

UX Research

While working on the digital transformation of Bally Technologies' slot machines at Globant, I encountered unique challenges due to the pre-defined user persona established by their team. Here's how I navigated these challenges to ensure a successful mobile experience:

Mobile-First User Experience

The existing user persona, created by Bally's team, provided a strong foundation. However, it needed to be adapted for the limitations and specificities of mobile devices. This involved:

  • Optimizing Button Sizes: Standard button sizes from the physical machines wouldn't translate well to mobile screens. I ensured buttons were large enough for easy tapping by all users.

  • Streamlining Screen Flow: The multi-screen experience of the physical slots needed to be condensed into a clear and intuitive single-screen flow for mobile. I redesigned the flow to ensure smooth navigation and maintain player engagement.

  • Preserving Gameplay Mechanics: Converting complex multi-screen mechanics into a single screen presented a challenge. I prioritized clarity and user understanding by simplifying the mechanics while retaining the core gameplay experience.

UX/UI Design

UX/UI Design

Balancing Legacy Assets with Mobile UX/UI

The UI/UX design presented unique challenges:

  • Reusing Legacy Assets: Cost-effectiveness demanded the reuse of existing game images and icons. However, these assets needed to be optimized for mobile screen resolution and user interaction. I spearheaded the process of adapting these assets to ensure a visually appealing and user-friendly mobile experience.

  • Building a Mobile-First Interface: Despite reusing some visuals, the core interface needed a complete overhaul for mobile. I led the design and development of a mobile-first interface, prioritizing intuitive navigation, clear information hierarchy, and touch-friendly interactions.

  • Balancing Animations with Clarity: Recreating animations from the slot machines was important for brand consistency. However, on a smaller mobile screen, excessive animations could clutter the interface and impact gameplay clarity, especially when dealing with real money wagers. I addressed this by implementing strategic use of animations, including pausing the main screen action to showcase key characters and effects temporarily. This ensured a balance between engaging visuals and a clear, uncluttered experience for users placing real-world bets.

UX/UI Design

Balancing Legacy Assets with Mobile UX/UI

The UI/UX design presented unique challenges:

  • Reusing Legacy Assets: Cost-effectiveness demanded the reuse of existing game images and icons. However, these assets needed to be optimized for mobile screen resolution and user interaction. I spearheaded the process of adapting these assets to ensure a visually appealing and user-friendly mobile experience.

  • Building a Mobile-First Interface: Despite reusing some visuals, the core interface needed a complete overhaul for mobile. I led the design and development of a mobile-first interface, prioritizing intuitive navigation, clear information hierarchy, and touch-friendly interactions.

  • Balancing Animations with Clarity: Recreating animations from the slot machines was important for brand consistency. However, on a smaller mobile screen, excessive animations could clutter the interface and impact gameplay clarity, especially when dealing with real money wagers. I addressed this by implementing strategic use of animations, including pausing the main screen action to showcase key characters and effects temporarily. This ensured a balance between engaging visuals and a clear, uncluttered experience for users placing real-world bets.

Team work

Team work

Cross-Functional Collaboration at Globant

At Globant, the Bally Technologies slot machine conversion project was organized into three distinct teams:

  • Gaming Team: I initially joined the gaming team, responsible for the core gameplay mechanics and user experience (UX) design for the mobile versions.

  • Backend Development Team: A dedicated backend development team meticulously converted the complex game logic and ensured strict adherence to casino regulations, including payout structures and responsible gaming principles.

  • Data Visualization Team: A separate team focused on designing the dashboard metrics board to track and visualize key performance indicators (KPIs) for the converted games.

As the project progressed, my role expanded beyond the gaming team. My active participation in broader project discussions fostered strong relationships across all teams. This ultimately led to me attending meetings with all three teams, ensuring seamless collaboration and a holistic approach to the mobile slot machine conversion.

Team work

Cross-Functional Collaboration at Globant

At Globant, the Bally Technologies slot machine conversion project was organized into three distinct teams:

  • Gaming Team: I initially joined the gaming team, responsible for the core gameplay mechanics and user experience (UX) design for the mobile versions.

  • Backend Development Team: A dedicated backend development team meticulously converted the complex game logic and ensured strict adherence to casino regulations, including payout structures and responsible gaming principles.

  • Data Visualization Team: A separate team focused on designing the dashboard metrics board to track and visualize key performance indicators (KPIs) for the converted games.

As the project progressed, my role expanded beyond the gaming team. My active participation in broader project discussions fostered strong relationships across all teams. This ultimately led to me attending meetings with all three teams, ensuring seamless collaboration and a holistic approach to the mobile slot machine conversion.

Championship

Championship

Being Champion to the product meant a lot of new responsibilities coming my way. Direct communication with the client's stakeholder was the first one. Thanks to my experience and english skills I was able to do this seamlessly.

Championship

Being Champion to the product meant a lot of new responsibilities coming my way. Direct communication with the client's stakeholder was the first one. Thanks to my experience and english skills I was able to do this seamlessly.

Alejandro Luna | UX/UI Designer & Producer

Alejandro Luna
UX/UI Designer &
Producer

©2024 ALE LUNA DESIGN/

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©2024 ALE LUNA DESIGN/

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