Like many other hobbies, skateboarding’s impact on participants’ lives is as cultural as it is entertainment. Its reach goes beyond the lifestyle itself. Skateboarding’s influence can be seen in pop culture, music, and fashion on a global scale.

“The average fan of skateboarding checks up to six different sources weekly for skate news.” – Ankleflick User Survey, October 2023

It is difficult for fans of skateboarding to remain connected with the sport in a sustainable way. Content is scattered across countless platforms with legacy skate media actively gatekeeping. This leaves smaller, more creative publications fighting for scraps with minimal exposure to readers.

By creating a platform that is able to dynamically suggest and curate content based on a user’s interest, we will open up a first-of-its-kind platform for skateboarders to discover and stay connected.

As a team of one, I was required to step far outside my traditional role as a Senior Product Designer. This began by asking ChatGPT how I could use ChatGPT to help perform the roles of a Content Designer, UX Researcher, and Product Manager. It was very meta and still does not sit well with me. But throughout the entire process I consistently utilized A.I. and YouTube for handling tasks, learning, and skill-building wherever I lacked experience and/or bandwidth.

As an A.I. Product Manager I built a business case using data and analytics from competitors. The data was provided by A.I. and validated by my own research. I learned the modes of monetization competitors were implementing and chose a model that would support my business goals.

As an A.I. UX Researcher I created a testing plan for researching those competitors. My girlfriend is also a UX Researcher so she was able to assist in writing a script for the first user survey.

As an A.I. Content Designer I wrote UX, medium-length, and long-form content for prototypes.

As an A.I. Project Manager I set 1:1s with friends and connections I’ve made through networking. I also coordinated apparel releases and merchandising while searching for lead developers.

Research to solve this user problem began with a general research spike on popular skateboarding apps and websites (FIG. 1). I also researched failed apps and websites that have fallen by the wayside and/or become obsolete. This was done to find experience gaps with current sites as well as missteps for defunct sites.

Many of the gaps I found in current and past skate apps fell under 3 categories:

1. Lack of build quality, usability, and accessibility

2. Lack of curation and personalization

3. Lack of deep user connection

   • No unique features to drive user excitement

   • 1-dimensional product offerings do not drive user engagement

After researching the market, I did an in-depth competitor analysis (FIG. 2.1-2.3) on leaders in the social media, content curation, and collection apps. I knew what I wanted to build would be content-driven, utilizing rewards and unlockables to gamify the experience.

Once I exhausted my own research and experience, I knew it was time to reach out to skaters in my local community. I had 12 responses to a user survey exploring further painpoints with a user’s journey (FIG. 3.1-3.4) through skate news. An unexpected benefit of this survey was that I got a massive list of publications that could be featured on Ankleflick as well as utilized as outlets to advertise and market the app.

From there I began wireframing key user flows (FIG. 4.1-4.4) with a couple of north stars:

1. Something fun to use

2. Something that gives a 3-dimensional, contextual view of the skate industry

3. Something that amplifies individual creators and artists

The research is still ongoing but the competitor analysis, user survey, and wireframes have all led to the hi-fidelity mockups you see below.

Throughout this project my biggest challenge was managing my own bandwidth and reducing burnout. I was working 3-4 extra hours per day + weekends in addition to my full-time job. For this reason I kept my workflow flexible. Some days I would spend hours wireframing while others I worked on social media assets. This kept deliverables fresh and interesting which helped me maintain momentum.

I also struggled to find Engineering resources initially. I wanted to create a native mobile app but after consulting with friends and professional connections I am pivoting (currently) to a web app which has opened up opportunities to collaborate with skateboarders who are also Developers.

A news aggregator with curation capabilities that are tailor-made for skateboarders’ needs. The Stickers (rewards) mimic the analog act of collecting skate memorabilia that many users are familiar with. Users are more likely to adopt because they are consistently unlocking new morsels of trivia, art, and delight that tie back to the rich history of skateboarding.

Ankleflick’s personalized feed and discoverability paired with its unique reward system is a feature offering that could apply to any community.

ChatGPT (Content Designer, Product Manager, UX Researcher), Kyle Mayers (Marketing Consultant), Nate Seaman (Product Designer)