UX Redesign of a University Fan Engagement Mobile App

The Challenge

ASU’s Sr Director of Marketing Technologies reached out to Clixlogix with a direct assessment: the group that built the Sun Devil Rewards app had done a poor job, and the university needed to explore what it would take to get the app built correctly. The app was live on both app stores, but it created more operational friction than engagement value.

Usability gaps. The existing app lacked coherent navigation patterns, consistent UI standards, and intuitive flow between core engagement features. Users encountered friction at multiple points, from onboarding through daily use. For a branded digital product representing a Tier 1 public research university, the experience fell below institutional standards.

Content management limitations. The university could not update catalog items, event listings, or rewards inventory without developer involvement. Every content change required the original development team’s intervention, creating operational bottlenecks and delays in responding to a campus event calendar that moved faster than the vendor’s turnaround.

Engagement architecture gaps. The gamification mechanics (points earning, levels, leaderboards, rewards redemption) existed but lacked the structural clarity needed to sustain long term user participation. The connection between user actions and reward outcomes was not transparent in the interface.

Integration requirements. ASU operated live content feeds (ASU Now for university news, ASU Events for the campus calendar) and required geofenced event checkin with specific operational rules: checkin activation one hour before event start, geolocation verification for physical presence. These requirements had no clean mapping in the existing app.

During the first call, ASU’s stakeholder walked through the specific feeds, the checkin logic, and the self service requirements in detail. The level of specificity signaled that the university knew exactly what it needed. It needed a team that could document those requirements and translate them into screens.