Embedded Files
Up and Down the River
Designing and building a lightweight score-tracking web app for a fast-paced card game.
Up and Down the River began as a practical solution to a familiar problem: keeping track of scores during a fast-moving card game without breaking the flow of play. What started as a simple idea quickly became an opportunity to explore product design, user experience, and front-end development in a real-world context. I designed and built the entire application from scratch, focusing on clarity, speed, and ease of use for both desktop and mobile players.
Product Design
Defined the core user need: quick score entry without interrupting gameplay
Designed user flows for starting a game, tracking rounds, and viewing scores
Prioritized minimal UI and clear hierarchy to reduce cognitive load during play
UX & Interface Design
Designed wireframes and interface layouts focused on speed and readability
Considered edge cases like mis-clicks, score corrections, and game resets
Optimized layouts for both desktop and mobile screens
Development
Built the full web application using AI-assisted coding tools
Structured game logic, state management, and scoring rules
Iterated quickly by testing the app during real game nights and refining based on use
Reflection
Rather than starting with a predefined technical stack, I learned what I needed as the project evolved — from understanding how to structure game logic to refining UI behavior through repeated testing. Using AI as a coding partner allowed me to move quickly while still making intentional design decisions. Each iteration was informed by real use, helping me better understand how design, logic, and user behavior intersect.
Google Sites
Report abuse