While DC's villains are iconic, they often play second fiddle to the heroes in mainstream media and fan engagement. There is a missed opportunity to deepen fan connection with the rich, complex personalities of these characters beyond their typical roles as antagonists.
Traditional promotional tactics fail to fully leverage the immersive and participatory potential of digital platforms. The challenge lies in creating an experience that not only highlights these villains in an exciting, fan-driven way but also sustains interest, encourages social sharing, and integrates meaningfully with DC’s broader branding and campaign efforts.
Through interviews with participants, clients and stakeholders, we gathered valuable insights to better understand and empathize with the needs of our target audience. This allowed us to dive deeper into defining the project's challenges.
The Diehard Comic Fan
Name: Fernando
Age: 34
Occupation Graphic Designer
Traits: Deep DC lore knowledge, collects rare issues
Goals:
• Wants to see underrated villains get the recognition they deserve
Needs:
• In-depth bios
• Strategic matchups
• asense of authenticity
The Casual Pop Culture Enthusiast
Name: Kayla
Age: 27
Occupation: Marketing Coordinator
Traits: Loves superhero movies and viral content
Goals:
• Looking for fun content tied to familiar names
Needs:
• Quick summary
• Eye-catching visuals
• Shareable moments
The Competitive Superfan
Name: Devon
Age: 27
Occupation: College Student
Traits: Loves rankings, matchups
Goals:
• Wants to "win" the bracket by predicting outcomes
Needs:
• Live updates
• Tournament logic
• Results tracking
The Social Media Influencer
Name: Brooke
Age: 29
Occupation: Content Creator
Traits: Quick to jump on brand campaigns
Goals:
• Create commentary content around villain battles
Needs:
• Visual assets
• Character summaries
• Embeddable content
Our team went through the process of rapidly visualizing, testing and refining thoughts and ideas before the development process. Below is a glimpse of how we defined our vision of the user's journey through the app by highlighting decision points, loops and any potential friction areas.
To help the team determine the priority of information, I designed the placement and layout of content in wireframe form which allowed for rapid iteration, feedback and discussions.
Once approved, I developed the wireframes into a working prototype to help simulate user interaction with the product and address any potential pain points discovered throughout the early stages.
The visual design of DC Meta Madhouse is bold, chaotic, and deeply rooted in the aesthetic of DC’s iconic villains. The site features a dark, gritty color palette with splashes of neon and distressed textures, echoing the unpredictable energy of characters like The Joker and Harley Quinn. Comic book-inspired typography, animated transitions, and character-centric artwork created an immersive, high-stakes tournament atmosphere.
Bracket layouts are stylized with dramatic flair, while interactive elements—like hover states and voting buttons—keep the experience dynamic and engaging. The experience was designed to feel like stepping into a digital madhouse—unhinged, vibrant, and unmistakably DC.
about (creativity). I'm excited to hear about any potential opportunities.
