Interactive Platform Design for D&D Enthusiasts
Dana McKeen
This project centered on creating a platform tailored for experienced Dungeons & Dragons players and Dungeon Masters. I designed and tested interactive prototypes using Adobe XD, conducting user testing sessions to gather targeted feedback on usability and feature expectations. These sessions uncovered critical gaps in the initial concept—particularly around essential tools and user workflows. Leveraging this insight, I refined the interface and expanded the feature set to align more closely with user needs. The final design reflects a user-centered approach that prioritizes clarity, functionality, and the unique behaviors of the tabletop gaming community.
This project required the creation of a set of integrated apps for two different types of users. I considered several options before deciding it would be great to be able to make an app for Dungeon Masters to manage their campaigns, plan upcoming encounters and sessions, communicate with players between sessions, and host sessions. Players would be able to receive and send communication with their DM as well as create or manage characters and join a session when it is active.
The desktop app is centered around the needs of the Dungeon Master (DM). This layout mockup includes a spread of various elements of the app designed for the tasks of a DM to be able to complete their job easily.
This project has live interactive prototypes available for the Dungeon Master (Web App) as well as the Party Member (Mobile App).
This design shows the interface which allows the Dungeon Master to create various Interactions that they can save and store for use throughout campaigns. They can indicate monsters encountered, add loot that will be distributed on completion of the encounter, and write narrative notes as well as add tags to help filter and search from the encounters they have already created. Another goal I had in mind for this project was that there would be a library of default standard encounters as well.
A look at the drawer style menu
The menu pulls out from the side of the screen, featuring access to the various functions of the app, as well as a quick drop down option for changing between campaigns being managed and account setting access. Dungeon Masters would be able to control aspects of their players' experience such as options during character creation and dice rolling options for game play.
Screen recorded GIF to demonstrate elements from the Prototype described in the next paragraph.
Some nitty gritty campaign details are hidden behind the map for easy access without being intrusive during game sessions. Being able to select which encounters were completed allows for easier distribution of loot at the end of a session. You can choose for it to be distributed randomly and then make manual adjustments to ensure the correct items go to each player appropriately.
Users who have already joined campaigns will be able to select from amongst any active campaigns as their entry point to the app. The intent was that Dungeon Masters could provide a campaign code to new users that they could input by navigating the "Joining a new campaign?" prompt as well.
Demonstrating the start of a new character to completion of their setup
Snippets of some of the user side of the app, in which users can create or reference their character details, access information and communication from their Dungeon Master (including session summaries and direct messaging), and utilize active session tools like the map, digital dice rolling, and tracking for things like the use of spell slots.
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Posted Mar 5, 2026
Designed a platform with apps for D&D players, using Adobe XD for prototypes and user testing.
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