Skillz · Gaming · Hardware + OS
Exploring a dedicated platform for competitive mobile gaming
A hardware and software ecosystem spanning device concepts, controller exploration, onboarding, game discovery, tournaments, social features, and live chat.
Project overview
Role
Product Designer
Platform
Hardware + Operating System
Scope
R&D concept exploration
The opportunity
Product problem
At Skillz, competitive mobile gaming lacked a dedicated experience connecting hardware, games, tournaments, and community in one place.
User need
Players needed a simpler way to set up, discover games, compete, and connect with others.
Business context
The concept explored how Skillz could expand beyond mobile software into a more complete gaming ecosystem.
Design goals
Create a cohesive console and operating system built around fast onboarding, game discovery, competition, and social play.
The ecosystem
A branded ecosystem for competitive mobile gaming, pairing a dedicated tablet-like console with a compact controller and custom operating system.
Hardware exploration
Design decisions
A dedicated gaming experience
A focused interface gave competitive mobile play a stronger sense of place beyond the typical phone experience.
One connected
system
The console, controller, and operating system were designed together so setup, navigation, and play felt continuous.
Built for competition and community
Games, tournaments, friends, and live chat were brought into one experience to support discovery and social play.
This exploration reinforced that hardware is only as strong as the experience around it. Designing the console and operating system together helped reveal how onboarding, discovery, competition, and community could form a more complete Skillz ecosystem. The next step would be testing the system through physical and interactive prototypes.