After getting Dave & Buster's new look and feel dialed in, I redesigned their mobile app with the new branding.

Here's the one-minute bedtime story:

Dave & Buster’s was in a slump; foot traffic and cash were tanking thanks to rivals like Top Golf and shifting vibes in entertainment.

Their old app? It didn't slap, as the kids say these days.

The challenge?

Make a new app that syncs with in-store stuff: loyalty, payments, you name it. As well as getting people hyped to use it — not just for points, but for fun.

As the Product Designer, I...

Jumped in to increase downloads, in-app spending, and repeat visits.

How? I turned it into a game: challenges, leaderboards — plus a new loyalty program to rizz up the in-app sales (@gen-z, did I use that correctly?).

So, here's what I did:

I dug into research, SWOT analysis, mocked up prototypes, tested like crazy, and teamed up with product, engineering, and marketing to nail the launch.

Receipts?

23% more downloads, 11% more active users, 14% bump in game card buys, 9% fatter food orders, and a 6% happiness boost.

Before I talk about the key takeaways, may I present to y'all, the new, and improved, Dave & Buster's mobile app:

So, what were the lessons learned from this project?

Gamify it, simplify it, and personalize it — people stick around and spend more.

Download the app, meet the crew at your nearest location, and play some skee-ball with some 🍔 and 🍻