A Companion App That Amplifies the Live Show Experience
A Companion App That Amplifies the Live Show Experience
A Case Study in Designing a 5-Minute Interactive Experience for 10,000 people
Company
Company
Sphere, Las Vegas
Sphere, Las Vegas
Industry
Industry
Events/ Entertainment
Events/ Entertainment
My Role
My Role
UX Designer
UX Designer
User Researcher
User Researcher
Timeline
10 Months
10 Months
Overview
Overview
The Sphere Mobile App was created to elevate show nights at Sphere Las Vegas — one of the world’s most advanced venues — by offering fans everything they need in one interface. From tickets to food orders, maps to in-seat games, it transformed attendees from passive viewers into engaged participants.
Context
Context
I joined Sphere two years ahead of its 2023 launch as part of the Interactive team, responsible for designing all audience-driven experiences. While developing real-time games for 20,000+ people, our team also took on the challenge of creating the Sphere Mobile App.
Design Goals
Design Goals
GOAL 1
GOAL 1
Effortless Ticketing
Effortless Ticketing
How do we make browsing and purchasing tickets feel seamless and intuitive?
How do we make browsing and purchasing tickets feel seamless and intuitive?
GOAL 2
GOAL 2
Activate the Crowd
Activate the Crowd
How can we turn phones into tools for collective audience participation?
How can we turn phones into tools for collective audience participation?
Discovery
Discovery
Before I embarked on the design, I surveyed and interviewed Sphere audiences — putting their needs at the center. Two more priorities quickly emerged
Before I embarked on the design, I surveyed and interviewed Sphere audiences — putting their needs at the center. Two more priorities quickly emerged
GOAL 3
GOAL 3
Smart Wayfinding
Smart Wayfinding
How do we help guests navigate seats, restrooms, and concessions with ease?
How do we help guests navigate seats, restrooms, and concessions with ease?
GOAL 4
GOAL 4
Frictionless Ordering
Frictionless Ordering
How can we let users skip lines and order food without missing the show?
How can we let users skip lines and order food without missing the show?
Planning
Planning
Information architecture was shaped through card sorting exercises, ensuring a clear, intuitive structure that lets users navigate tickets, food, seating, and interactive features with ease.
Information architecture was shaped through card sorting exercises, ensuring a clear, intuitive structure that lets users navigate tickets, food, seating, and interactive features with ease.
Key App features
Key App features
Beyond ticket purchasing, the Sphere app acts as your personal show companion—offering food ordering, real-time navigation. Every feature is crafted to enhance the live show experience—before, during, and after the event.
Beyond ticket purchasing, the Sphere app acts as your personal show companion—offering food ordering, real-time navigation. Every feature is crafted to enhance the live show experience—before, during, and after the event.
01
Effortless Ticketing
Easily browse and purchase tickets
for upcoming shows and immersive
experiences at Sphere.
01
Effortless Ticketing
Easily browse and purchase tickets
for upcoming shows and immersive
experiences at Sphere.
02
Ticket Wallet
Instant access to all your tickets — ready to scan, with real-time alerts when doors open or showtimes change.
02
Ticket Wallet
Instant access to all your tickets — ready to scan, with real-time alerts when doors open or showtimes change.
03
Live Participation Games
Turn your phone into a controller to vote, react, or play games on Sphere’s massive screen.
03
Live Participation Games
Turn your phone into a controller to vote, react, or play games on Sphere’s massive screen.
04
Interactive Venue Map
Find your seat, the nearest restroom, or the shortest line with an intuitive, real-time map.
04
Interactive Venue Map
Find your seat, the nearest restroom, or the shortest line with an intuitive, real-time map.
05
Seat-Side Ordering
Order food and drinks directly
from your seat, skip the lines,
and enjoy exclusive in-app offers.
05
Seat-Side Ordering
Order food and drinks directly
from your seat, skip the lines,
and enjoy exclusive in-app offers.
06
Personalized Profile
Your hub for payment info, saved events, preferences, and live game leaderboard details.
06
Personalized Profile
Your hub for payment info, saved events, preferences, and live game leaderboard details.
Atomic Design System
Atomic Design System
Created reusable components—artist cards, badges, countdowns—to scale content seamlessly and reduce visual clutter. This system also streamlined handoff and ensured consistency across design and engineering.
Created reusable components—artist cards, badges, countdowns—to scale content seamlessly and reduce visual clutter. This system also streamlined handoff and ensured consistency across design and engineering.
Impact
Impact
The Sphere app transformed what a venue companion could be—blending practical utility with playful interactivity. From streamlining entry and concessions to powering large-scale crowd games, the app helped turn passive audiences into active participants.
The Sphere app transformed what a venue companion could be—blending practical utility with playful interactivity. From streamlining entry and concessions to powering large-scale crowd games, the app helped turn passive audiences into active participants.
42%
42%
increase in pre-show game participation
increase in pre-show game participation
52%
52%
boost in concession sales through in-app food ordering
boost in concession sales through in-app food ordering
60%
60%
opt-in rate for push alerts
opt-in rate for push alerts
"
"
I came for the concert, but the app made it feel like a whole interactive experience. Ordering snacks from my seat and playing games with the crowd? Loved every second.
I came for the concert, but the app made it feel like a whole interactive experience. Ordering snacks from my seat and playing games with the crowd? Loved every second.
Audience member, Post Show Interview
Audience member, Post Show Interview