A mobile app that serves as a directory for independent creators across social media platforms. It helps users discover artists, designers, musicians, and other creatives in a single, curated space, making it easier to explore talent beyond traditional algorithms. The creators of Indie World bootstrapped the entire development.
Product Designer
Q1 2024
Product thinking
Visual design
Pierce Henderson
Indie World is a directory of independent creators across social media platforms, helping users discover and follow emerging talent in one centralized place. The app highlights a “Creator of the Day” to spotlight featured talent and encourage exploration. Users can also create personalized collections called Fanzines, allowing them to organize and curate their favorite creators for easy access and ongoing discovery.
The existing interface lacked strong visual hierarchy and personality, making it harder for users to quickly discover creators or feel motivated to explore. Key actions like browsing, saving creators, and building collections did not feel intuitive or engaging.
I redesigned the home screen to prioritize featured creators, using larger imagery, stronger typography, and clearer section separation.
Since creators are the core product, I focused on making creator cards more expressive and scannable.
I developed a cohesive visual system inspired by digital magazines and creator platforms.
The redesigned experience highlights featured creators and curated collections to encourage exploration. Clear entry points guide users into different browsing paths, making it easier to discover new talent without relying on endless scrolling.
Users can quickly access the creator’s external platforms, while clear save and follow actions make it easy to build a personal collection of favorites.
Fanzines use a visual, list-based structure that helps users organize creators into meaningful collections. Clear ownership and categorization make these collections feel intentional and personal, reinforcing the app’s role as both a discovery and curation tool.
Adding creators was designed to be quick and seamless. Clear save actions and feedback help users instantly add creators to their collections without interrupting their browsing.
Users can easily reorganize or remove creators within a Fanzine. This keeps collections flexible and allows users to curate them as their interests evolve.
This redesign demonstrated how stronger visual hierarchy and modern UI patterns can improve content discoverability, increase the perceived quality of the product, and create a more engaging and intuitive browsing experience. The redesign led to a 30% increase in downloads and boosted user engagement.
This project strengthened my ability to design visually driven consumer experiences without relying heavily on research. I focused on creating clarity through typography, spacing, and component systems while ensuring the interface remained scalable.I also learned how small visual decisions—such as image prominence and layout balance—can significantly influence engagement and usability.
