[ Case study ]
Minute To Win It
A cross-platform chess app designed to make daily improvement fun, competitive and rewarding.
[ Overview ]
- Product
- Minute To Win It
- Industry
- Consumer Mobile App
- Platforms
- iOS, Android
- Services
- Product Strategy, UX/UI Design, Mobile App Development, Backend Development, Gamification, Subscription Design, App Store Optimisation, Product Launch
[ The challenge ]
What wasin the way
Many chess apps overwhelm new and intermediate players with complex features and endless content.
The goal was to:
- 01Build an experience that encouraged players to improve through consistency rather than intensity.
- 02Create a product people would genuinely want to return to every day.
[ The Solution ]
Built around one simple habit.
Design and build a cross-platform mobile app centred around one simple habit: solve one great chess puzzle every day. The experience combines engaging gameplay with long-term progression, encouraging players to improve through short daily sessions rather than marathon practice. Premium features provide additional value without compromising the free experience.
Daily Chess Puzzle
A fresh puzzle every day designed to keep players engaged.
Global Leaderboard
Compete against players around the world and climb the rankings.
Progress Tracking
Track improvement over time with performance history and personal statistics.
Streaks
Encourage consistency by rewarding players for returning each day.
Puzzle Library
Premium members can revisit previous puzzles and continue practising.
Membership
Subscription model unlocking additional features including full leaderboard access, streak tracking and historical puzzles.
Expert Analysis
Help players understand not just the correct move, but why it works.
Cross-Platform Experience
A consistent, polished experience across both iOS and Android.
[ Product thinking ]
Designing Around Habit Formation
Rather than trying to compete with feature-heavy chess platforms, Minute To Win It focuses on one clear value proposition: helping players improve through short, consistent daily practice. Every feature was designed to reinforce this behaviour—from daily puzzles and streaks to progress tracking and competitive leaderboards. The goal wasn't to maximise screen time. It was to build a product users genuinely looked forward to opening every day.
[ Results ]
Key outcomes.
- 01Cross-platform mobile app
- 02Successfully launched on iOS & Android
- 03Subscription-based product
- 04Daily engagement model
- 05Gamified learning experience
- 06Designed for long-term retention
[ Technology ]
Technology.
[ Gallery ]
Inside the product
[ My Role ]
From Idea to Launch
Minute To Win It was conceived, designed, built and launched independently.
- 01Product strategy
- 02User research
- 03UX/UI design
- 04iOS development
- 05Android development
- 06Backend architecture
- 07Subscription design
- 08App Store Optimisation
- 09Google Play optimisation
- 10Product launch
- 11Ongoing iteration
This project demonstrates ownership of the entire product lifecycle—from identifying an opportunity through to designing, building, launching and continuously improving the app.
[ Final Outcome ]
Minute To Win It demonstrates how focused product thinking can turn a simple concept into an engaging consumer product.
By combining gamification, habit-building and thoughtful UX, the app encourages players to return every day while creating a sustainable subscription-based business.
✷ Next
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