1. Problem Definition (The Core Challenge)

Adrennial is a platform designed to connect outdoor adventurers with content creators, allowing both groups to share, discover, and monetize outdoor sports content. The platform had two primary user groups: participants, who were looking to get into new outdoor activities and find locations to engage in them, and content creators, who were looking to monetize their content and connect with their audience.

Key Challenge

The core challenge was finding a way to engage both groups effectively. For participants, the focus was on discovery—how could they easily find activities and locations to get involved in their chosen sport? For creators, the challenge was how to provide a monetization model that offered more than the typical big platforms like YouTube. The introduction of shared gear and clothing and the ability for viewers to tip creators within the app were key solutions in differentiating Adrennial from its competitors.

2. User and Business Goals (The "Jobs to Be Done")

Using the Jobs to be Done (JTBD) framework, I identified the key tasks that Adrennial needed to help users accomplish, and how these aligned with both user needs and business goals:

1. Help Participants Discover Outdoor Sports:
   Participants needed an easy way to find sports and locations where they could participate in activities they were interested in, whether for the first time or as seasoned adventurers.
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2. Enable Content Creators to Monetize Their Work:
   Creators wanted an alternative to traditional platforms like YouTube, one that would allow them to directly earn money by sharing their gear, tips, and experiences with their audience. The ability to share their gear and earn tips was a unique aspect of the platform that appealed to this group.
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3. Create an Engaging, Community-Oriented Experience:
   Both groups—participants and creators—needed to feel part of a supportive community. This meant ensuring that creators were incentivized to share content while giving participants the tools they needed to get involved in the activities.
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4. Attract Creators to the Platform:
   To compete with YouTube and other larger platforms, Adrennial had to offer creators unique incentives, like monetizing through viewer tips and showcasing their gear, in addition to the exposure they could gain from the platform.

For Adrennial, achieving these goals meant building a platform that balanced discovery for participants with monetization options for creators, encouraging both to engage and grow within the community.

3. Design and Strategy Approach (How I Solved It)

As the product strategist and designer, my approach was centered on creating a platform that catered to both participants and creators while providing a seamless experience. Here’s how I tackled the problem:

• Discovery-Focused UX for Participants:
  The first priority was designing a simple, intuitive discovery flow for participants. I created an easy-to-navigate interface that allowed users to quickly find outdoor activities they were interested in, with an emphasis on nearby locations where they could try these activities. User testing showed that simplicity and ease of access were key factors in ensuring users stayed engaged with the platform.
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• Monetization Features for Creators:
  To incentivize creators to adopt Adrennial, I designed a unique monetization system. This included the ability for creators to share their gear with their followers and enable tipping within the platform. I also designed intuitive dashboards for creators to track their earnings, gear shares, and follower interactions. This system gave creators more control over their income compared to traditional platforms like YouTube.
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• Community and Social Integration:
  To foster a sense of community, I worked on features that allowed creators to interact with their followers, not just through content, but also through the sharing of experiences and equipment. I made sure the platform encouraged collaboration between creators and participants by highlighting shared gear and experiences in the feed, making it easier for users to connect with like-minded individuals.
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• User Testing and Iteration:
  I conducted user testing through interviews and feedback loops with both participants and creators. This helped me understand their pain points, allowing me to iterate on designs quickly and refine the platform’s features to meet their needs. I worked closely with developers to ensure the features worked seamlessly across devices.
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• Product Strategy:
  I helped define the product vision and strategy, aligning the platform’s development with both user needs and business objectives. This involved prioritizing features based on user feedback and ensuring that we stayed focused on creating a simple, user-friendly experience for both creators and participants.

4. Impact (The Results)

The launch of Adrennial was met with positive feedback and measurable impact in both user engagement and creator adoption:

• Increased Creator Adoption:
  The unique monetization options and ability to share gear helped attract 40% more creators to the platform within the first few months after launch, with many creators stating that the monetization features were key factors in choosing Adrennial over more established platforms like YouTube.
• Active User Engagement:
  Participants spent more time on the platform exploring new activities and finding locations to participate in outdoor sports. User engagement metrics showed a 25% increase in time spent on the platform compared to initial benchmarks.
• Improved Community Interaction:
  The integration of shared gear and social features led to a 30% increase in interactions between creators and participants, as users engaged with both content and community-driven aspects of the platform.
• Business Growth:
  By offering creators a more rewarding platform and ensuring participants had a rich discovery experience, Adrennial saw significant growth in both creator content and participant signups, contributing to a strong foundation for future scaling.
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5. Reflection & Learnings (What I Took Away)

This project taught me the importance of building a balanced platform that addresses the needs of multiple user groups—participants and creators—while keeping the experience simple and intuitive. One of the key takeaways was that monetization can be a major driver for creator adoption, especially when paired with community engagement features that make users feel invested in the platform.

In future projects, I would continue to focus on integrating social and community-driven features, as they proved to be pivotal in driving user retention and engagement. I also realized the power of iterative testing and user feedback in shaping a product that directly addresses user needs, and I plan to apply this further in future endeavors.

Product Overview:

Adrennial is an outdoor adventure platform that connects participants with content creators, helping adventurers discover new sports and locations while allowing creators to monetize their content. With features like gear sharing, tipping, and seamless social integration, Adrennial creates a unique, community-driven experience for both participants and creators.