Visual disconnect
The existing menu felt separated from gameplay rather than part of it.
POKERSTARS CASINO · PRODUCT EXPERIENCE
IN-GAME
EXPERIENCE
Redesigning game navigation to make essential actions clearer, faster and less disruptive — while creating a new path from one game to the next.
01 · THE PROJECT
NAVIGATION THAT
STAYS IN THE GAME.
The In-Game Menu Enhancement project focused on redesigning navigation inside PokerStars casino games without interrupting the entertainment experience.
The redesign transformed the menu from a functional overlay into a cleaner, more integrated and polished in-game experience.
The goal was to make important controls easier to understand and access while keeping players immersed.
02 · THE CHALLENGE
UTILITY WITHOUT
INTERRUPTION.
Interaction friction
Players needed a clearer, more intuitive way to reach important actions during a session.
Product consistency
The solution needed to scale across multiple games, licences and platforms.
03 · DESIGN PRINCIPLE
THE MENU SHOULD FEEL
PART OF THE EXPERIENCE.
The design direction was driven by one central idea: in-game navigation should support the player's session, not pull attention away from it.
I focused on reducing friction, improving clarity, creating a more immersive UI and maintaining consistency across the wider product ecosystem.
CORE PRINCIPLELESS OVERLAY.
MORE CONTINUITY.
04 · THE APPROACH
SIMPLIFY THE MENU.
STRENGTHEN THE HIERARCHY.
Cleaner navigation
Reduce visual complexity and make core actions easier to scan.
Clear hierarchy
Make available actions easier to understand.
Intuitive interaction
Keep menu use lightweight and predictable.
Game integration
Preserve visual connection to gameplay.
Reusable patterns
Scale components across game experiences.
05 · BEFORE / AFTER
FROM FUNCTIONAL OVERLAY
TO INTEGRATED UI.
→
06 · KEY INSIGHT
EXIT DOESN'T HAVE TO
MEAN DROP-OFF.
The redesign created an opportunity beyond menu usability: what happens when a player is ready to leave the current game?
The Next Game feature surfaces recommended games before the session ends, creating a smoother transition to another title and an additional discovery moment.
07 · EXPERIENCE FLOW
KEEP THE PLAYER
IN CONTROL.
PLAY
Gameplay remains the focus.
OPEN MENU
Access controls in context.
TAKE ACTION
Find settings quickly.
EXIT INTENT
Leave when ready.
DISCOVER
Optionally move to a new game.
08 · SCALABLE SYSTEM
ONE PATTERN.
MANY GAME EXPERIENCES.
The interface needed to create a cohesive visual and interaction pattern across games, licences and platforms — not become a one-off visual treatment.
01Consistent navigation model02Reusable UI components03Clear interaction hierarchy04Adaptable visual treatment
09 · OUTCOME
CLEARER NAVIGATION.
STRONGER CONTINUITY.
Improve visibility of active and available bonuses and key actions.
Create cohesive patterns across games, licences and platforms.
Encourage continued exploration by surfacing new games in the menu journey.
Establish a reusable UI system for multiple game experiences.
10 · TAKEAWAY
GOOD IN-GAME UX
KNOWS WHEN TO DISAPPEAR.
In an entertainment product, utility needs to be immediate when needed and quiet when it isn't.
This redesign reframed the menu as part of the gameplay journey: clearer when opened, less disruptive in use, and able to create a natural bridge into further discovery.