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Project Title

NexGen Pro League Website

Role

Web Design & Branding

Duration

4 Weeks

Tools

Figma & Wix Studio

Skills

Web Design, Branding, Content Writing and Client Management 

Experience NexGen in Action

See NexGen in motion—where competition meets community. Watch how the redesigned platform elevates the player experience, strengthens connections, and streamlines league operations. Learn more below!

Case Study Deep Dive

Background

Growing up, basketball was a huge part of my brother’s life—it shaped his discipline, teamwork, and passion for the game. When he started NexGen Pro League to train and develop aspiring athletes and host tournaments, he needed a website that truly reflected his mission. My goal was to create a modern, user-friendly platform that made it easy for players to register, discover training opportunities, and stay connected with the league. More than just a site, this was about building a digital home for a community of athletes striving to take their game to the next level.

Problem Statement

The NexGen Pro League needed a user-friendly website to streamline athlete event registration, showcase training services, and foster community engagement by highlighting the league’s mission and offerings.

Target Audience

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Aspiring Athletes

Easy access to registration, training services  and event details.

​Sports Enthusiasts

Engaging content, schedules, and live updates.​

​Future Sponsors

Clear presentation of partnership opportunities.

Design Process

Discovery

Define

 Ideate

Prototype

Deliver

Discovery

Ground & Research

Understanding My Clients Needs

Bringing NexGen Pro League’s vision to life started with truly understanding the heart of the league—its goals, values, and aspirations. I sat down with my brother to listen and connect, diving deep into what the league stands for, what elements sparked excitement, and what they wanted to steer clear of. This conversation was key in making sure the design wasn’t just a reflection of their brand, but something that would resonate with their audience on a personal level.

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From these discussions, a clear picture emerged: the league wanted to attract new athletes, showcase their dynamic community, and highlight their mission of growth and connection. This discovery phase laid the foundation for a design that wasn’t just functional—it told the story of NexGen Pro League, capturing its essence and aligning with their goal to inspire and elevate the athletes they serve.

Competitive Analysis

To ensure the website stood out in a competitive market, I took the time to research how other basketball programs and training services approached their online presence. I analyzed their websites to understand the industry standards, strengths, and areas for improvement. By evaluating user experiences, visual designs, and content structures, I noted what worked well—like clean navigation and captivating visuals—and what didn’t—such as cluttered layouts or unclear messaging.

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To make sure the design aligned with my brother’s vision for NexGen Pro League, I also asked him to send over a vision board of styles, colors, and features that inspired him. This gave me a clearer sense of the tone and aesthetic he was hoping for. Armed with these insights, I set out to create a website that not only felt fresh and engaging but also addressed the unique needs of the league, ensuring a seamless, user-centered experience that aligned with their mission.

Define

Identifying Key Challenges & Opportunities

Align insights to solve user needs

I took everything I learned from speaking with my client, the players, and tournament staff to really zero in on what needed to be addressed. While my client shared their big-picture goals for the platform, I wanted to get a deeper understanding of what players and those who work closely with them at tournaments were experiencing. I spoke directly with the players to hear about their frustrations—how hard it is to get noticed, how they feel stuck using social media to get any real exposure, and how there’s a gap in structured opportunities to show off their skills. I also had conversations with tournament staff to get their take on the challenges players face in engaging with the league.

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From these conversations, it became clear that players want a one-stop hub—something that keeps them informed and connected to all aspects of the league in one place.

Pain Points

​​Managing sign-ups through Instagram DMs and texts became chaotic, leading to lost messages and confusion.

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Athletes struggled to find clear training and registration info, creating frustration and disconnect.

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NexGen needed a digital home where players could easily sign up, access training, and connect.

How Might We..
  • How might we simplify registration for effortless league and training sign-ups?

  • How might we design a clear, engaging platform that highlights key offerings?

  • How might we strengthen communication to foster league community and connection?

User Personas

The Personas section introduces two key user profiles—an Aspiring Athlete seeking elite training and exposure, and a Basketball Enthusiast looking for competitive tournaments—highlighting their goals, challenges, and how NexGen Pro League meets their needs.

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Ideate

Exploring Solutions

Designing the solution

Rooted in empathy and a user-first mindset, I began with sketches to design an intuitive experience for players, prospective trainees, and the league community. Collaborating with my brother, we identified key pages that streamlined registration and highlighted training opportunities. I then translated these insights into low-fidelity wireframes in Figma, refining the flow for clarity and engagement. Finally, I brought the design into Wix, ensuring the site not only looked great but also fostered connection and growth within the NexGen Pro League community.

Challenge

With three distinct user groups, I needed to create a streamlined structure that balances clarity and functionality. This required a user-first approach to ensure players, prospective trainees, and the league community could easily navigate the site without feeling overwhelmed.

Information Architecture
Low Fidelity Sketches and Frames
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Branding & High Fidelity Prototype

Branding Sheet
To create a website that truly reflected NexGen Pro League, I collaborated closely with my brother to shape the branding. He provided the league’s logos and color palette, giving me a strong foundation to build from. I then pulled additional imagery inspiration to capture the right tone—using black and white photography to highlight the intensity, grit, and community of the athletes.

 
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Results & Impact

The redesigned NexGen Pro League website wasn’t just a fresh look—it was built for the players. My brother shared how so many athletes reached out, excited to see themselves featured, especially in the alumni spotlight. That personal touch made the site feel like it truly belonged to them.

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And the impact went beyond just local players. In the first weekend alone, the site saw 100+ visits, with traffic coming from Instagram, online searches, and even from my brother’s network in other countries—reaching the global community of athletes that NexGen supports.

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But it wasn’t just about visibility. The new dashboard made registration smoother, giving players and organizers an easier way to manage sign-ups. By focusing on the people behind the game, this redesign didn’t just improve the site—it helped strengthen the NexGen community.

To bring the vision to life, I built the website on Wix, using the low-fi mockups I created in Figma as a blueprint. This hands-on approach let me quickly turn ideas into an interactive, fully functional site. It was exciting to see the design evolve from concepts into a real, user-friendly platform that truly represents the heart and energy of NexGen Pro League.
Final Design
Link.
Key Features
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Training services offered
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Payment Process
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Community page dedicated to players

Reflection 

What Worked Well?
What I loved most about this project was the chance to work within my community and bring my brother’s vision for NexGen Pro League to life. Using design to showcase the league’s mission, training services, and community was truly fulfilling. The storytelling approach allowed me to highlight what matters most—connecting people, building excitement, and creating a platform that feels personal. Collaborating with my brother throughout the process was inspiring, and his feedback was key in shaping the final site to match his goals.

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What Would I Do Differently in the Future?
Given the time crunch, I would’ve loved to go through more iterations to refine the design even further. Though I had limited time, the experience taught me valuable lessons, and I’m excited to keep honing my web design skills. This being my first web design project, I’m eager to take what I’ve learned and continue practicing to create even better, more polished sites in the future.

Thanks for your interest in my work!

© 2025  by JaylaThompsonDesigns. All rights reserved.

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