UpNext · Fan-powered influencer competitions
UpNext is a voting app where influencers compete and fans purchase votes to propel them forward. Bitrupt choreographed research, experience design, and full-stack build so every interaction turns engagement into measurable earnings.
Launch scope
MVP · iOS
Design runway
6 weeks
Development
4 weeks
Role
UX research · Experience design · Full stack delivery
Methods
Market research, surveys, interviews, journey mapping, wireframes, moodboards, MVP pilots
Outcome
A voting marketplace where fan spend turns into influencer earnings in real time
Program cadence
Ten weeks from insight to monetised MVP
We balanced rapid discovery with brand-building craft. Each phase generated the artefacts required to de-risk the next—from research synthesis to engineering-ready flows.
Define
Clarified opportunity, set north-star metrics, and captured creator & fan personas.
Low-fidelity prototype
Rapid concept validation across flows, gating monetisation and fan engagement moments.
Brand & product design
Crafted gradient visual language, component library, and social-ready storytelling.
App development
Delivered full-stack MVP, Stripe microtransactions, and moderation workflows.
Convert influencer engagement into a premium, trackable revenue stream.
Empower fans to champion favourites through purchases, nurturing loyalty loops.
Instrument analytics that surface real-time vote volume and fairness cues to both sides.
Signals from discovery
Research insights that informed the product playbook
We clustered standout learnings into eight themes spanning monetisation, fairness, and viral growth.
Influencer monetisation
Votes create a secondary revenue line beyond brand deals, rewarding consistent content.
Fan investment
Purchased votes deepen commitment—financial support heightens emotional connection.
Competition drives engagement
Leaderboards and timed contests trigger urgency that keeps audiences active.
Transparency builds trust
Live revenue breakdowns reduce doubts and bring clarity to both creators and supporters.
Microtransactions work
Frequent, low-cost purchases make participation accessible and sustain revenue.
Community effect
Fans rally together, growing social buzz and broadening the competition’s reach.
Scalable revenue model
Platform commissions stay lean while scaling alongside creator payouts.
Virality potential
Contest progress naturally fuels shareable moments across social channels without heavy spend.
Journey tensions
Pain points we designed around
The fan journey demanded careful calibration of excitement, fairness, and financial transparency. These insights shaped everything from pacing to pricing UI.
High spending pressure
Fans risk fatigue if contests force escalating purchases to remain competitive.
Fairness concerns
Smaller influencers need balancing mechanics to stand alongside large fanbases.
Engagement fatigue
Continuous contests can dull excitement without dynamic pacing and rewards.
Community overload
Fast-growing groups require moderation and support touchpoints to stay positive.
Voting
Select a contestant to boost their ranking in real time.
Sarah
128 votes
Liam
92 votes
Mia
85 votes
Noah
78 votes
Leaderboard
See who is trending and how many votes they just earned.
Sarah
128 votes
Liam
92 votes
Mia
85 votes
Noah
78 votes
Empathy map
Designing with superfans in mind
Understanding what superfans say, think, do, and feel ensured we celebrated their enthusiasm while respecting boundaries around spending and fairness.
says
- I want my influencer to win.
- Buying votes shows support.
thinks
- My vote makes a difference.
- This is exciting.
does
- Buys votes.
- Shares contests.
feels
- Proud.
- Connected.
Creator profile
Unlock exclusive drops when you support your favourite influencer.
Sarah
128 votes
Liam
92 votes
Mia
85 votes
Noah
78 votes
UpNext’s identity leans on pastel gradients that mirror social media storytelling while keeping fan transactions trustworthy and premium.
Design system
Brand palette & typography
A dual-gradient palette anchored by crisp monochrome ensures screens feel lively without sacrificing readability. Poppins, across five weights, supports expressive headers and precise microcopy.
Palette
- Color #1#19FFFF
- Color #2#FFD2FC
- Color #3#000000
- Color #4#FFFFFF
Type scale (Poppins)
- Heading 124 px · ExtraBold
- Heading 220 px · Bold
- Heading 318 px · SemiBold
- Body16 px · Medium
- Caption14 px · Regular
Leaderboard
See who is trending and how many votes they just earned.
Sarah
128 votes
Liam
92 votes
Mia
85 votes
Noah
78 votes
Launch impact
UpNext transforms fan love into a monetised, measurable channel
With gradients, motion, and data transparency working in concert, the product feels premium and inclusive. MVP learnings now inform roadmap expansion around global contests and creator analytics.
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