Matrix
Rewards System

Matrix is a platform in an early growth stage that empowers small streamers to monetize their content by offering fans incentives for engagement like interactive rewards and exclusive memberships. I partnered with 3 founders to define the roadmap and design a Version 1 MVP, transforming early concepts into user-focused, investor-ready features. With limited research access and starting from scratch, I prioritized high-impact reward tools and delivered polished, clickable Figma prototypes to support our ideations and concepting direction.

IMPACT

I helped establish the initial product direction for Matrix’s creator rewards platform, translating user research, business requirements, and accessibility considerations into V1 concepts for the Reward System and Builder. This gave the team a concrete product foundation to present to investors for defining how creators could engage with and benefit from the platform. The initial design work supported later product iterations and Minecraft integration.

ROLE
Founding Product Designer
Motion Designer

TIMELINE
3 months
Version 1 MVP

TEAM
1 Product Designer
3 Founders

STAGE
0 to 1

THE PROBLEM

Content creators and streamers with no traction can only dream of content creation as their full time career.

It feels beyond difficult to pick up traction and gain enough followers for monetization to make content creation full time career. It feels like a dream to some, where you see low rates of views or streams with 0 viewers. Nowadays, you get pennies per thousand views on various platforms.

How are rewards earned? What actions count toward monetized engagement, and how a creator knows progress is being made? What can a creator provide from their end, and what could it cost the business.

THE CHALLENGE

Creating an engaging fast monetization system that makes sense for the business, content creators, and fans.

The product needed a monetization model that would be sustainable. Rewards had to be earned in a way creators understood and redeemed in a way that worked for the business, but also engaged fans.

As gaming enthusiasts and streamwatchers, we noticed that unpopular or beginner streamers often face low stream views and burnout from lack of growth, while fans invest time or money into popular creators, which can feel disconnected and overlooked. Our goal is to foster meaningful interaction and engagement that supports streamer growth while making fan contributions feel valued, creating a sustainable model for early adoption.

Business problem
Define a monetization system that could scale as the product grew.

Creator problem
How might we help small streamers grow and engage fans through a mutually rewarding experience?

THE RESEARCH

Getting to know the unique opportunity, outside of interviews and surveys.

To understand what other similar platforms and services exist and where this struggle was prominent, we wanted to see where we could strengthen and add to the stream experience. Together with the founders, we weighed in on the different features on each popular platform used by content creators currently.

I also gathered field research on what motivation and incentive systems exist, and looked into some popular successful examples.

THE FINDINGS

Compiling all the research, we worked toward finding commonalities and pain points.

Our findings from various sources and platforms, what we found, and what we changed about the direction of our product. I met weekly with the founders to discuss what our reward system would look like and how we could better align with our business goals.

SOLUTION

We arrived at the reward system of putting together a puzzle, similar to NFTs with rarities for digital rewards.

V1 gave creators a baseline for earning and redeeming rewards through the builder. I also made motion and marketing graphics so the system could be explained visually, not only used.

VARIATIONS

Some variations and drafts we ideated and considered.

MY REFLECTION

What I'd do differently
with more time and clearer direction.

This was fast, ambiguous, and cross-continental. Here's what I learned — and what I'd push harder on next time.

  • Impact: The System I designed is used to this day
    I built Matrix’s reward system that is now live on servers like OPBlocks, BlossomCraft, Manacube, and Vortex with game modes, experiences, and challenges.

  • What I Learned for Next Time
    After my work with Matrix, I’d dive deeper into the reward system styles, further define the creator-fan relationship, and prioritize accessibility in design aside from fun graphics. I’d also focus more on user research, testing, and iterating with more direction. Enhancing communication between creators and fans would be key, along with expanding personalization features.